Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has taken a swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, claiming he lacked the courage to manage internal party challenges.
Speaking on Sunday at the Peoples Democratic Party 2026 National Convention held at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Wike drew comparisons between Obi’s exit from the Labour Party and recent defections of some PDP governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Leadership is not an easy task. Leadership requires courage. Leadership requires firmness. Leadership requires commitment,” he said.
Wike argued that both Obi and the defecting governors demonstrated a lack of essential leadership qualities when faced with crises.
“What you see that has happened, the faction of some governors who have left have only shown you they lack the leadership traits. I liken them to the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party,” he said.
He further contended that the Labour Party had provided Obi with a platform to pursue his presidential ambition, but he reportedly abandoned it when challenges arose.
“The presidential candidate of the Labour Party wanted to be president. And they gave him a platform. That platform was the Labour Party. When crisis came in the Labour Party, it was time for him to show leadership. He ran away because he could not solve problems,” Wike said.
He added that the PDP governors who switched allegiance had similarly failed to demonstrate vision and resilience during critical moments, emphasizing that true leadership is tested during crises.
