Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned against growing calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing such moves as dangerous and insincere.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday night, Wike argued that those pushing for Jonathan’s return were the same individuals who frustrated him in 2015, and now only want to drag him into political conflict.
“Anybody saying Jonathan should return because he will only do one term is only looking for a crisis. These are the same people who abandoned him in 2015. Why now? Jonathan has made a name for himself globally and they just want to drag him into unnecessary conflict,” Wike said.
He further warned that using the excuse of a “one-term presidency” to push Jonathan or any candidate from the South could destabilize the country’s political balance.
On the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Wike acknowledged the current hardship but maintained that the government was making tough but necessary choices to revive the economy.
“Yes, there is hardship. I agree. But no one can deny that this government is making efforts to improve things. I see the projects in Abuja daily; they are evidence that something is happening,” he noted.
Wike also took aim at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, dismissing his recent warnings of a looming revolution over hunger and poverty as hypocritical.
“Atiku was vice president for eight years. Why didn’t he lay the foundation to prevent hunger then? Now he keeps talking about hunger and revolution. For me, I don’t even bother reading what he says, because there is no truth in it,” he said.
The FCT Minister urged Nigerians to remain patient with the Tinubu administration, while cautioning opposition figures against exploiting current economic challenges for political gain.
