FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has accused the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of lawlessness and an intent to divide Nigeria over his refusal to stand up for the national anthem at a political function.
Wike remarked on Friday during a stakeholders' town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State that the former Anambra State governor's decision to stand for an alternative anthem demonstrated his unpatriotic mindset toward the country he wants to preside over.
Addressing traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, and party faithful, the FCT Minister argued that a leader who disregards national symbols cannot be trusted with the presidency.
Wike further criticized Obi’s political trajectory and past governance record, alleging that the former Anambra State governor frequently abandons political parties whenever internal crises arise, rather than staying to resolve them.
"A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then, not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria [was sung], he stood up.
"In a way, he does not belong to this country. In a way, he has said he does not belong to this country; that if you give him the presidency, he would do a different thing that would divide Nigeria.
“A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic National Anthem must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country,” the minister said.
He also faulted Obi for not conducting local government elections during his eight-year tenure as governor, describing it as a contradiction to his professed belief in the rule of law.
In addition to targeting Obi, the FCT Minister targeted the opposition coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Wike questioned their track records in public office, specifically citing the state of seaports during Amaechi's tenure as Minister of Transportation and alleging that the administration demolished Government Secondary School, Ogu, without rebuilding it, alongside unfulfilled promises regarding a 1,000-bed specialist hospital.
Urging the people of Ogu-Bolo to disregard what he termed "big grammar" from opposition politicians on television, Wike maintained that President Tinubu’s administration had delivered tangible dividends of democracy to the area.
He pointed to the construction of the Ogu-Bolo Civic Centre—facilitated through the federal appointment of an indigene, Boma Iyaye—as well as the conduct of local government elections.
He urged people in the area to massively support the reelection of Tinubu, Kingsley Chinda for Governor of Rivers State and all the APC candidates seeking National Assembly seats.
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