Arise Television’s Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has claimed that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is strategically positioning himself for a possible presidential bid in 2031.
Oseni made the assertion on Monday while analysing the recent disagreement between Wike and some governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the broadcaster, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be reluctant to allow the disagreement between Wike and the governors to escalate because of the President’s political interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“You see, I know this country too well. President Tinubu will never rock the boat. He will just try to give a gloomier response to settle the matter between Wike and the governors because he wants to win an election,” Oseni said.
Oseni argued that Tinubu’s approach could be aimed at maintaining Wike’s support ahead of the election, while still allowing the President to respond to some of the concerns raised by the FCT minister.
He further said the more significant political contest involving Wike could emerge after the 2027 elections, particularly over the future direction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“But you see, where the real tussle will be is after elections have been won or lost,” he said.
The television host also questioned how Wike would seek to rebuild the PDP after what Oseni described as the minister’s role in weakening the party and backing a faction within it.
“All of this Wike is playing, forget it, he has presidential ambitions. Anyway, he ran in the last election cycle, so all of this is strategically positioning himself for the next eight years when power will come back to the South,” Oseni said.
Oseni added that Wike’s age could give him room to remain active in national politics and pursue his reported presidential ambitions in a future election cycle.
“And you see, the good thing about the game which he is playing is that age is on his side,” he said.
Wike contested the 2023 PDP presidential primary, where he finished second behind Atiku Abubakar. He subsequently supported the eventual presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, during the 2023 general election.
Oseni’s latest comments come amid continuing political disagreements within and around the PDP, as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections and beyond.
