Daud Olatunji
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, of disrespecting Nigeria and displaying tendencies capable of dividing the country, following an alleged refusal to stand during the national anthem.
Wike said Obi’s alleged conduct raised questions about his commitment to national unity, insisting that someone seeking to lead the country should demonstrate respect for its national symbols.
The minister made the remarks on Friday during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, organised under the Rainbow Coalition as part of efforts to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and candidates of the All Progressives Congress.
According to Wike, Obi remained seated while the Nigerian national anthem was being rendered but stood up when another anthem, which he said was not Nigeria’s official anthem, was played.
He described the development as an indication that the former Anambra State governor did not have sufficient regard for the country.
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,” Wike said.
He added that such conduct was unacceptable from anyone aspiring to occupy the highest political office in the country.
“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,” he stated.
Wike also questioned Obi’s political consistency, accusing him of abandoning political parties whenever internal disagreements emerged rather than remaining to resolve the crises.
He further criticised Obi’s eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State, alleging that he failed to conduct local government elections during his administration.
The FCT minister argued that Obi’s alleged failure to conduct council elections contradicted his public advocacy for the rule of law and democratic accountability.
Turning his attention to the opposition political alliance involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Wike challenged their records in public office.
He questioned the condition of Nigeria’s seaports during Amaechi’s tenure as Minister of Transportation and alleged that the administration demolished Government Secondary School, Ogu, without rebuilding it.
Wike also accused the former administration of failing to fulfil its promise to construct a 1,000-bed specialist hospital in the area.
He urged residents to disregard what he described as the opposition’s use of impressive rhetoric on television, insisting that the Tinubu administration had delivered more tangible benefits to Ogu-Bolo.
Among the projects he highlighted were the Ogu-Bolo Civic Centre and federal appointments secured for indigenes of the area, particularly through the appointment of Boma Iyaye.
He subsequently urged the people to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition, Kingsley Chinda for the Rivers State governorship and APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area, Vincent Nemieboka, declared the council’s support for Wike, attributing the community’s political loyalty to projects and appointments attracted to the area through the minister.
Nemieboka said traditional rulers, community leaders, youth representatives, women groups and other stakeholders were united in their support for Wike.
He said, “Considering the volume of things, projects, and appointments you have implemented in this local government area, we will be glad to welcome you always, support you always, and follow you always.”
Similarly, the Amanyanabo of Bolo, King Acheseinimie Frank, commended Wike for what he described as visible interventions through the Niger Delta Development Commission.
He listed sand-filling projects, internal road construction in Ogu-Bolo and the construction and maintenance of the Kira-Ogu-Bolo Road among the benefits recorded by the communities.
The monarch also said the area had secured three major political appointments through Wike’s influence, assuring the minister of the community’s continued support.
The Chairman of the Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Lawrence Abeabiari, disclosed that two locations in the community had been named after Wike in recognition of his contributions.
He identified the locations as Wike Road at Enelechi Phase 1 and Wike Sandfield.
In his address on behalf of the stakeholders, Prof. Lucky Worika said Wike’s previous administration as Rivers State governor and his current position in the Federal Government had strengthened federal presence in Ogu-Bolo.
Worika specifically acknowledged the appointments of Boma Iyaye as Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the NDDC, Dame Maureen Tamuno as Managing Director of the Abuja Investment Company and Senator George Sekibo as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal Oil and Gas Polytechnic.
He claimed that Iyaye’s appointment at the NDDC had facilitated 19 major ongoing interventions across the local government area.
The projects, according to him, include the reconstruction of Ogu General Hospital with a 70kVA solar power station, the Ele/Opu-Ama Link Road, the Kira-Bolo Road, internal roads, streetlights and sand-filling projects.
Others include low-cost housing estates, teachers’ quarters in secondary schools across Ogu, Bolo and Wakama-Ama, scholarship programmes, free medical missions and youth skills acquisition initiatives.
Worika also recalled Wike’s previous interventions, including the reconstruction of Government Secondary School, Ogu, the Kira Bridge, Ogu/Eteo and Ogu/Wakama link roads, and a landing jetty in Ele Community.
He further credited the minister with facilitating the elevation of the traditional stools of Ogu and Bolo to first- and second-class status, respectively.
However, Worika appealed for further federal intervention in the riverine communities, citing persistent challenges involving access to healthcare, potable water, electricity, maritime transportation and environmental sustainability.
He urged Wike to deploy his influence in Abuja to attract additional federal investments to the area.
The stakeholders subsequently pledged their support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and other political candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition.
Abeabiari expressed confidence that the coalition would deliver the anticipated votes, declaring that all its candidates would emerge victorious in the January 16, 2027 elections.
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