Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has questioned the humility of Peter Obi, accusing politicians of using visits to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and other public gestures to win voters’ sympathy ahead of the 2027 general election.
Wike made the remarks on Thursday at the inaugural Idoma Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Abuja, organized in collaboration with Ochetoha K’Idoma as part of the Idoma Centenary Plus celebrations.
The minister challenged the perception of Obi as a humble politician, referring to the former Anambra State governor’s decision to mark his 62nd birthday in 2023 with a visit to an IDP camp in Plateau State.
“Politicians can tell lies,” Wike said, questioning why Obi had chosen to celebrate his birthday at an IDP camp while pursuing the presidency.
He added: “And you say, ‘Oh, he is very humble’. Which humility is that?”
Obi, who is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), recently disclosed that he had visited 12 IDP camps across Nigeria in recent weeks.
During a visit to the Ramin Kura IDP camp in Sokoto State, Obi shared pictures of himself interacting with displaced children and called on the government to improve conditions in the camps.
He also urged political office holders to spend their holidays in Nigeria to experience the hardship faced by vulnerable citizens.
However, Wike warned Nigerians against accepting politicians’ public displays of modesty at face value, suggesting that some gestures were calculated to appeal to voters.
The FCT minister cited examples of politicians suddenly buying roasted corn and groundnuts in public or visiting filling stations to comment on fuel prices, questioning the sincerity of such actions.
Wike also urged Nigerians to assess the performance of the current administration against the challenges it inherited, acknowledging that citizens remained unhappy with the country’s economic and security situation.
He maintained that voters should consider whether efforts were being made to improve conditions before deciding who deserves their support in 2027.
His comments add to the growing political exchanges between supporters of President Bola Tinubu and opposition figures as preparations for the next general election gather momentum.
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