The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has mocked former presidential candidate Peter Obi for serving food at a recent party, calling the act a calculated attempt to appear humble and deceive Nigerians.
Speaking at the commissioning of the New Edo Line Transport Service in Benin City on Tuesday, Wike questioned Obi’s motive and dismissed it as political theatrics.
“This is not where a presidential candidate will begin to serve food. No! No!! How long will he be serving food?” Wike asked. “As a president, you will be carrying food and serving? And Nigerians are laughing. Who told you that is humility?”
He also took a swipe at Obi’s often-publicised use of commercial flights, suggesting it was part of a larger PR stunt. “Somebody will be telling you that as a presidential candidate, he’ll be using commercial flight and you believe that?” he said.
Wike further expressed support for Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, who had recently issued a warning to Obi, advising him to seek proper security clearance before visiting the state again.
Okpebholo had earlier claimed that during Obi’s last visit where he donated N15 million to a nursing school, unrest broke out, allegedly leading to the deaths of four people.
Wike defended the governor’s stance, saying: “He didn’t say ‘don’t come.’ He only said, ‘Let us know when you’re coming, so we can protect you.’ But people twist it. They play politics with everything. They even pay people to go on TV and distort the truth.”
Wike’s remarks come amid growing tensions in the political landscape ahead of 2027, as opposition figures and ruling party stalwarts trade words over actions, motives, and legacies.
