FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has dismissed claims that opposition to his proposed Rainbow Coalition is primarily driven by fears that the alliance could destabilise the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting that deeper political interests may be behind the controversy.
Wike made the remarks on Monday while speaking to journalists during an inspection of ongoing road construction projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The minister, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he would disclose more details about the disagreement during a television interview scheduled for later in the day.
The controversy surrounding the Rainbow Coalition has reportedly drawn opposition from the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as well as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
However, Wike argued that the concerns being raised about the coalition’s potential impact on the APC did not represent the real issue.
“You will hear the full details today of why all this cry about Rainbow Coalition. I will tell you, and Nigerians will be shocked when they hear the full details about the so-called Rainbow Coalition,” Wike said.
Wike Dismisses 2031 Presidential Ambition Speculation
Responding to suggestions that the Rainbow Coalition was designed to position him for the 2031 presidential election, Wike cautioned against making political projections about a contest that remains years away.
The FCT minister stressed that political ambitions must be considered alongside the uncertainty of life, arguing that individuals should not assume they can determine future events.
“People take the position of God. First of all, you have to pray that you are alive,” Wike said, questioning how politicians could already be planning for the 2030 and 2031 elections.
He added that there was nothing inherently wrong with people assuming he was positioning himself politically, but maintained that such speculation did not accurately describe his current objectives.
Wike also suggested that the question of who would succeed President Bola Tinubu could be contributing to the political tension surrounding the coalition.
‘The President Must Also Have Interest in Who Will Succeed Him’
According to Wike, President Bola Tinubu, who would not be eligible to contest for another term in 2031 under the constitutional term limits, would naturally have an interest in the question of presidential succession.
The minister questioned whether his political activities could necessarily be viewed as being in conflict with the President’s interests.
“By 2031, as a sitting president, he will not be running. So, the president must also have interest on who will succeed him,” Wike said.
He added that people were misinterpreting the situation and claimed that some individuals were reacting out of fear.
Wike’s comments come amid political discussions over alliances and the positioning of political actors ahead of future electoral contests.
Wike Recalls 2022 PDP Presidential Primary
The FCT minister also referred to his participation in the 2022 PDP presidential primary, where he finished second behind former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Wike maintained that his experience in the primary had given him an understanding of Nigeria’s political landscape and the dynamics surrounding presidential contests.
“First of all, you should know that I ran in the presidential primary in 2022, and I came second. If not for what happened, I would have emerged,” he said.
He questioned the suggestion that he was currently positioning himself for a presidential run, asking which political party he would supposedly be using for that purpose.
Wike’s comments did not amount to an announcement of a 2031 presidential bid. Instead, he emphasised his stated immediate political priority of supporting President Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Wike Says His Priority Is Tinubu’s Second Term
The FCT minister said his primary concern was ensuring that President Bola Tinubu secured a second term in office.
Wike rejected allegations that the Rainbow Coalition was intended to undermine the APC, questioning the basis for claims that the alliance would destabilise the ruling party.
“My concern is how the President will be re-elected for a second term. That is my concern,” Wike said.
He expressed disappointment over suggestions that the coalition could weaken the APC and maintained that the arrangement should not automatically be interpreted as a threat to the party.
Wike said he would provide further clarification during his scheduled appearance on TVC between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Rainbow Coalition Has Not Asked Politicians to Abandon APC Candidates, Wike Says
Addressing claims that the coalition had directed politicians to withdraw their support from APC candidates, Wike denied that any such instruction had been issued.
He explained that the group had encouraged its members and like-minded politicians who were not APC members to support President Tinubu.
“We have not gone to anybody to say, ‘Don’t support anybody.’ We said to all our party members, all those like-minds who are not APC members, to please ensure that they support Mr President,” he said.
The statement comes amid discussions over the political implications of cross-party cooperation and the potential effects of the Rainbow Coalition on existing party structures.
Wike Compares Rainbow Coalition to 2023 G5 Governors’ Position
Wike also referenced the role of the G5 governors during the 2023 presidential election, arguing that political cooperation outside a single party was not a new development.
He questioned why similar concerns about destabilising the APC had not been raised during the 2023 election period.
“This is not the first time, first of all, in 2023 when it was G5, right? Why is it that nobody complained that it would destabilise the party?” Wike asked.
The minister further argued that the political developments of 2023 did not prevent Tinubu from winning the presidential election or the APC from maintaining control of the National Assembly.
He maintained that the Rainbow Coalition could potentially provide an advantage to the President, while insisting that the public debate had yet to address what he described as the underlying issues behind the controversy.
“What is the real cry about the Rainbow Coalition? The undertones,” Wike said.