Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has condemned the recent verbal attack by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on the former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili.
Frank, in a statement released on Tuesday, described Wike’s comments as a display of his penchant for betraying benefactors and allies.
The controversy arose after Wike, during a Special Thanksgiving Service organized by factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Port Harcourt, referred to Odili as an “ingrate” and a “rent seeker” for allegedly supporting the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Reacting to the incident, Frank said Wike’s remarks demonstrate his “irredeemable unpredictability” and a history of turning friends into foes.
“This is not the first time, and it will not be the last. Nigerians are aware of how Wike betrayed former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, after they supported his political rise.
“He also worked against Rotimi Amaechi, another of his political benefactors, despite benefiting immensely from him,” Frank stated.
Frank accused Wike of undermining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 presidential election by forming alliances to ensure the party’s defeat.
He alleged that Wike’s current actions are part of a broader strategy to weaken the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
“All his shenanigans in the FCT, including completing and commissioning projects, are part of his plan to position himself as a viable presidential candidate in 2027,” Frank claimed.
He warned President Bola Tinubu to tread cautiously in his dealings with Wike, predicting that the minister’s loyalty could shift as the 2027 elections approach.
“Wike, like Brutus in Julius Caesar, often betrays his allies when they need him the most. For Wike, fidelity to political relationships is anathema. If he is not in charge, no one else should be,” Frank cautioned.
Frank urged Tinubu to remain vigilant, asserting that Wike’s political manoeuvres could ultimately target the president himself.