Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over what he described as the governor’s repeated tendency to blame him for political developments in the state.
Wike made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, while discussing the growing disagreement between his political network and some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors ahead of the 2027 elections.
Taking a swipe at AbdulRazaq, Wike said the governor frequently invokes his name when dealing with issues he considers problematic.
“Anytime he sees a snake, it’s Wike. Anytime he sees a reptile, it’s Wike. Any day he doesn’t eat, it’s Wike,” Wike said.
The FCT minister also accused AbdulRazaq of spending too much time on political criticism instead of concentrating on governance.
“I have never seen people who will give time to gossip more than the work they have been given,” Wike said.
He further criticised the Kwara governor over changes involving the state’s political representatives ahead of the 2027 elections, alleging that the governor had replaced all three serving senators as well as members of the House of Representatives.
Wike argued that such political changes could create dissatisfaction among politicians who had previously occupied elective positions and potentially affect their future political alignments.
The disagreement is linked to the broader controversy surrounding Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political platform that he says is focused on supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Wike has maintained that supporting Tinubu at the presidential level does not prevent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties from supporting or contesting other elections under their respective party platforms.
The position has, however, drawn opposition from APC governors. The Progressive Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, said its members would not support political arrangements that could weaken the APC or its candidates at any level.
The governors said their campaign commitment would remain focused on APC candidates, including President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Wike, in response, insisted that the Rainbow Coalition is separate from the APC and said his objective is specifically to mobilise support for Tinubu’s presidential bid.
He also cited governors such as Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Alex Otti of Abia as examples of political leaders who have expressed support for Tinubu while remaining associated with their respective political parties.
The latest exchange adds to the growing political disagreements among allies and opposition figures as parties and political groups prepare for the 2027 general elections.
