•Wike and Tinubu
The story of Nigerian politics is littered with tales of betrayal, but few politicians embody this trait as consistently and unapologetically as Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. To pretend otherwise is to ignore the long trail of broken alliances, shattered friendships, and bruised benefactors that mark his rise to prominence.
From his earliest forays into politics, Wike has perfected the art of biting the very hands that fed him. His political godfathers — John Azuta-Mbata, Peter Odili, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and even former president Goodluck Jonathan — all discovered, in due time, that loyalty is not a currency Wike trades in. Each of them, at various stages, invested trust and resources in him, only to be discarded once their usefulness expired or their paths stood in the way of his ambitions.
Consider John Azuta-Mbata, who provided Wike with his first platform in local government politics. Their relationship collapsed once Wike’s ambition outgrew Azuta-Mbata’s influence.
Peter Odili, once the most formidable political force in Rivers State, raised Wike through the ranks, but Wike abandoned him the moment Odili’s power waned.
Then came Chibuike Amaechi, the man who lifted Wike from obscurity and entrusted him with the key position of chief of staff. Wike repaid that trust with relentless opposition, insults, and a political war that left Rivers State bitterly divided.
Even former President Goodluck Jonathan, who relied on Wike’s fiery tongue to shore up his 2015 campaign, was not spared. Wike’s open rebellion against Jonathan’s wife, Patience, and his eventual posturing in opposition to Jonathan’s interests, left no doubt about his appetite for treachery.
To Wike, loyalty is never to a person, it is to the opportunity that power presents at any given moment.
It is within this context that I issue a strong warning to President Bola Tinubu: the same fate awaits you! A leopard does not change its spots, and Wike’s track record shows that he will turn on anyone once he calculates that doing so serves his ambition.
He thrives on perpetual conflict, keeping himself relevant by stoking controversies and ensuring he is never far from the centre of political storms.
The minister’s character is unstable, his political fights are endless, and his caustic tongue spares no one who dares to disagree with him. He delights in abusing opponents and even allies who fail to align with his every whim.
For Wike, politics is not about service or stability; it is a battlefield where scorched earth tactics are deployed without restraint.
President Tinubu must recognise that keeping Wike close is not a sign of strength but of vulnerability. Already, his antics are damaging the image of this administration, painting a picture of a government where one minister operates above discipline and beyond control.
Every new controversy involving Wike, whether it be his insults, his vendettas, or his high-handedness in the FCT, reflects poorly on the president himself. Nigerians are beginning to wonder: is the president in charge, or is he hostage to one man’s excesses?
History has shown us that Wike’s loyalty ends the moment power is at stake. He will fight, insult, and betray anyone to gain an advantage.
President Tinubu should therefore rid his government of this baggage before it becomes a bigger liability. To ignore this reality is to invite the inevitable — betrayal, embarrassment, and political chaos at the very heart of his administration.
Mr President, beware! The leopard has not changed its spots. Wike’s politics of betrayal is a ticking time bomb. The question is not if it will explode, but when.
*Dabari, a public affairs analyst, writes from Yenagoa.
(Culled from Daily Independent)
