The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing attack on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying the ex-governor of Anambra State will “continue to contest as President on social media, but not as President of Nigeria.”
Wike made the remarks on Thursday during the commissioning of newly constructed roads in the Mabushi District of Abuja. His comments came in response to Obi’s recent criticism of the state of public primary schools in the FCT.
During a visit to LEA Primary School, Kapwa, on Wednesday, Obi described the school’s conditions as “a national disgrace,” citing the absence of chairs, toilets, and basic infrastructure. He blamed the situation on “hollow leadership” and misplaced government priorities.
However, Wike dismissed Obi’s comments as political grandstanding, accusing him of exploiting public appearances for social media sympathy rather than offering constructive solutions.
“I hear one of the social media presidential candidates went to one of the Local Authority area schools and was saying that the government has abandoned public schools. In particular, his name is Mr Peter Obi. It is not everything you must play politics with,” Wike said.
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The minister also questioned Obi’s track record, claiming that his eight-year tenure as Anambra governor left much to be desired.
“Peter Obi, you were governor for eight years in Anambra State. If you had finished all the jobs in eight years, nobody would be talking about developing Anambra by now,” he said.
Wike further challenged Obi to compare his achievements in Anambra with the infrastructural developments carried out in the FCT under his own leadership over the past two years.
“We just came into office two years ago… Compare two years in office of what we have done in FCT, and compare eight years in Anambra — can you really say you love this country? Can you really say you love Ndi Anambra? Certainly not.”
Taking aim at Obi’s political leadership, Wike said someone who could not manage a small political party had no business aspiring to lead a country of over 200 million people.
“You ran as President under a party; you cannot manage the party. Ordinary party, you cannot hold it together. And it’s Nigeria you want to manage? It’s not available for people like you,” he concluded.
The clash between the two high-profile politicians highlights ongoing tensions between opposition figures and federal officials, particularly as economic and social challenges dominate national discourse.
