By Peterside Rejoice
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal’s claim that President Bola Tinubu is unapproachable, describing it as the outburst of a bitter politician who is still angry over his rejection as vice presidential candidate in 2023.
Wike, speaking on a national television programme in Abuja, said it was unfair for Lawal to brand Tinubu and his government as inaccessible, stressing that governance is a collective responsibility involving ministers, advisers and aides, and not a matter of direct access to the President by every citizen.
“When you say Mr President is unapproachable and the government is unapproachable, what do you call a government?” Wike asked. “If everybody wants to bypass ministers and advisers to see the President, how many people can he attend to?”
The FCT Minister accused Lawal of bitterness, recalling that shortly after Senator Kashim Shettima was announced as Tinubu’s running mate, the former SGF visited him in Port Harcourt in company of a former Speaker to complain. According to Wike, Lawal’s attacks on Tinubu stemmed from the disappointment of not being chosen.
“Babachir thought Mr President would pick him. When he was not picked, he became bitter. That is why you see his constant attacks,” Wike said.
Turning his attention to his longtime political rival, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Wike accused him of massive corruption and hypocrisy. He alleged that Amaechi shut down the state high court for nearly two years, disobeyed the National Judicial Council, wasted N74 billion on a failed monorail project, sold state assets without accountability, and mismanaged Rivers State’s gas turbines and aircraft.
“Amaechi cannot fight corruption because he is himself a very corrupt man,” Wike declared. “He was indicted, he went to court, and the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court affirmed it. Nigerians should ask: where is the money from the gas turbine? Where is the monorail? Where is the Kalibu Heart Hospital?”
Political analysts say Wike’s fresh attacks may reopen questions around Amaechi’s stewardship, which could attract renewed scrutiny from anti-graft agencies. Similarly, Lawal’s continued public outbursts against the Tinubu administration could leave him facing disciplinary action within the All Progressives Congress (APC), while further isolating him politically ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike also took a swipe at the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), dismissing it as a party that Nigerians have already rejected, citing its poor performance in recent by-elections across 13 states.
“There is no coalition,” he said. “When CPC, ACN and some PDP members formed the APC in 2014, that was a coalition. But people jumping from one party to another because they failed elsewhere, that is not a coalition. Nigerians know better.”
On governance, Wike defended President Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, describing the current hardship as temporary sacrifices that would eventually yield positive results. He said petrol prices had begun to drop slightly and urged Nigerians to remain patient.
He also praised the military and security agencies for gains in the fight against terrorism, noting that the United States and the United Kingdom recently commended Nigeria’s progress in weakening terror networks.
“The government is on the right track,” Wike insisted. “Terrorists tried to destabilise our country but our security agencies penetrated them. Even the U.S. and U.K. commended us. Nigerians must look at the bigger picture.”
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