Wike Flays Obi: You Couldn’t Hold a Party Together, Yet You Want to Rule Nigeria

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday launched a blistering attack on the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, questioning his leadership credentials and ability to govern a country as complex as Nigeria.

Wike spoke during the commissioning of two newly constructed roads — ILS11 (Esther Bali Street) and MAR24 (Kez Udezue Street) — in the Mabushi area of Abuja.

He accused Obi of hypocrisy, saying the former Anambra State governor lacked the moral standing to lecture anyone on governance, having failed to manage his own political party.

“You ran as president under a party, and you couldn’t manage that ordinary party. You couldn’t hold it together. Is it Nigeria, a country of over 200 million people, that you want to manage?” Wike asked.

“You can’t hold a small party together, yet you talk about managing a complex nation like Nigeria. It’s not possible. You can tell a good dancer from the first step,” he added.

The minister also took a swipe at Obi’s style of politics, saying his compassion-themed public image contrasts sharply with his performance in office as Anambra governor.

Wike insisted that Obi’s presidential ambitions would remain confined to social media, arguing that governance required practical leadership, not online popularity.

The latest outburst adds to the growing war of words between the FCT Minister and the Labour Party flagbearer, both of whom have traded verbal jabs over national issues and the state of governance.