Wike call Obi 'stingy' and say e no fit be president for Rivers town hall

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike don talk say Peter Obi no get wetin e take be president, e yab the former Anambra governor for carrying im own bags and dismiss im plenty online followers as no proof of leadership.

Wike talk on Saturday for town hall with stakeholders of the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where e also urge residents to support President Bola Tinubu re-election for 2027.

According to Wike, a man wey once govern a state suppose get personal assistant to carry im things. He talk say Nigerians no want president with that kind reputation for frugality. He also talk say if the contest na for "president of social media" e go vote for Obi, but no be for the work of running Nigeria.

Obi name dey inside reports as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The sources no talk whether e don respond to Wike remarks.

Anambra record and party loyalty

Wike ask voters to weigh Obi time for Anambra against the performance of the current governor, Chukwuma Soludo. He also criticize politicians wey dey leave their parties when trouble start, talk say e stay for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and fight im battles there instead of walking away.

The minister talk say e get doubts about the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket and about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom e talk say e don know since their days together for PDP.

He restate im support for Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), talk say the ruling party na the platform e go back for the presidential race.

Allegations on Rivers projects

Wike also make claims about how the previous Rivers State administration handle public money. He allege say $39 million, which e put at about ₦53 billion, go into a proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital without the project pass foundation stage.

He question wetin residents get from about ₦60 billion wey dem spend on the state monorail. On a gas turbine sale, he allege say the deal worth $308 million but na only $308,000 remain for the state account when e take office for May 2015. He also recall a proposed $10 million for fumigating the state against mosquitoes.

The figures na Wike own account at the meeting. No independent verification dey, and the officials or parties concern never respond for the reports.

On the economy, Wike defend the removal of petrol subsidy, talk say na hard choice past governments avoid. He acknowledge the hardship from higher fuel prices and living costs but talk say states now dey get more money, claim at least ₦15 billion monthly in federal allocations, without giving breakdown.

He praise the completed Bonny-Bodo Road, talk say e end years of travel by boat and helicopter to the island.

Wike talk say the Rainbow Coalition go unveil its candidates on Tuesday, 27 October, and name Kingsley Chinda as its choice for the Rivers governorship race. Some candidates go run on the APC platform, he talk.

Wetin go happen next: The coalition candidate list dey due on Tuesday, and the 2027 campaign don already dey take shape around Tinubu record and the opposition challenge.