Wike Is An Asset To APC, Has Sacrificed For Tinubu – Kano Lawmaker

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as an “asset” to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the former Rivers State governor has made significant contributions towards strengthening President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its political prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Jibrin, who represents Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, said Wike’s role in the current political arrangement should be viewed within the broader context of the minister’s decision to work with the Tinubu administration despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He made the remarks on Wednesday while appearing on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television.

According to the lawmaker, Wike had made sacrifices for the APC and President Tinubu, arguing that his political activities since joining the Federal Government had benefited members and stakeholders of the ruling party.

“There is no APC member today in Nigeria that has not directly or indirectly benefited from the effort of Wike,” Jibrin said.

He explained that Wike’s involvement in the administration had gone beyond his appointment as FCT minister, pointing to what he described as the minister’s role in managing opposition politics through the Federal Government’s “government of national unity” arrangement.

Jibrin said Wike had also contributed to the APC’s political strength in Rivers State, claiming that the minister had effectively handed the state over to the ruling party.

“Wike has sacrificed so much for APC, for the President. Wike has handed over Rivers State to APC,” he said.

The lawmaker also cited Wike’s role in the Federal Capital Territory elections, saying the minister had candidates who stepped down in favour of APC candidates.

He said Wike’s decision to participate in the Tinubu administration as part of a government of national unity had also helped reduce the strength of opposition politics in some states.

“If not for the efforts that Wike made in managing the opposition, relying on the government of national unity, even in a lot of states that we are talking about today, many stakeholders in the states, including the governors, may not be able to manage their states, because of how strong the opposition would have been,” Jibrin stated.

Jibrin, however, acknowledged that Wike has his own political style and idiosyncrasies, but argued that political stakeholders should learn how to manage their differences with him rather than confront him publicly.

“He has his idiosyncrasies. But also, you know, somebody has his own idiosyncrasies, you manage him that way. Wike is an asset,” he said.

He added that although Wike might not appreciate being described as an “asset” to the APC because of how such a description could be perceived, his contribution to the administration and the party remained significant.

Jibrin also urged the governors to treat Wike as part of the wider political family rather than as an outsider.

“I believe that the governors should take Wike as part of them. Because you can call Wike the number 32 governor in the country, and a dedicated number 33 APC governor, because he’s working completely with APC,” he said.

The lawmaker was responding to the controversy surrounding Wike’s recent exchanges with state governors and comments in which the FCT minister criticised some governors describing them as “lazy”.

Jibrin said political disagreements were inevitable, stressing that Wike and his critics had their respective interests.

“Politics is about interests. And Wike had his own interests. People fighting him had their own interests. And he moved on,” he stated.

He nevertheless advised that disagreements involving Wike should preferably be handled behind closed doors rather than through public statements.

Jibrin said he would rather Wike be asked to explain his reasons for making controversial remarks than have the comments become a source of confrontation between him and the governors.

On preparations for the 2027 presidential election, Jibrin said President Tinubu would require multiple campaign structures rather than relying on a single political organisation.

He argued that the existence of several campaign structures was normal in Nigerian politics but stressed the importance of effective communication and coordination among them.

“The issue of delivering the president, never in the history of this country has there ever been only one campaign structure. The president himself is smarter than that. So he has to have multiple campaign structures,” Jibrin said.

He, however, advised that there should be a “steady and solid communication line” among the various campaign bodies and political organs supporting the president.

Jibrin further argued that Wike’s political activities should be viewed within this wider campaign strategy.

According to him, some politicians outside the APC had also been working with the administration, and the treatment of such individuals could influence their willingness to continue supporting the government.

He disclosed that some politicians in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had contacted him over the public disagreements involving Wike, expressing concern about how political allies were being treated.

Jibrin said such concerns could have implications for the administration’s broader political coalition ahead of 2027.

He consequently urged President Tinubu to give Wike greater support to enable him to continue his political activities in support of the administration.

“This is the time, Seun, for the President to even give Wike much more support to be able to continue what he is doing,” he said.

Wike, a former two-term governor of Rivers State, was appointed Minister of the FCT by President Tinubu in August 2023. His participation in the Federal Government despite remaining in the PDP has continued to attract political debate, particularly as parties and political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.