Wike Reacts as Makinde Declares For Presidency: 'That Is The 419'
Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has described the alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) as a fraudulent declaration, saying it is a 'political 419'. Wike, a chieftain of the PDP and the immediate past governor of Rivers state, blamed Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo for engaging in a fraudulent act ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Vanguard reported that the minister made the comment while inspecting road projects in Gomani-Yangoji, Kwali Area Council, Abuja, on Thursday, May 14. He stated that neither the PDP nor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are aware of such an arrangement. His statement reads in part: 'When I say people are fraudulent, they think I am joking. And that is the 419 we are talking about.'
The minister explained that the ongoing internal activities of the PDP, such as the screening of presidential aspirants, had shown that the opposition party remains independent and has no coalition arrangement with any other party. He said that anybody who doubts him should watch and see who the party will eventually submit to INEC as its presidential candidate.
Wike argued that Governor Makinde was only exploiting the APM platform to project his personal presidential ambition, saying the governor's aspiration was dead on arrival. Governor Makinde had earlier announced his intention to join the 2027 presidential race, against President Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the poll. However, Makinde's declaration has started generating reactions from Nigerians.
Below are some of their comments:
- Oluwatigbemiga Asiwaju Mourinho Fidelix projected Makinde's defeat: 'Seyi Makinde wakes up to reality after Oyo state results are in, and he is losing it to PBAT. He will not get 5% in Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti. And those are the votes that should have gone to Atiku or Obi.'
- Professor Fisayomi commented: 'Ilefo illuminati! Makinde pocketed 30 billion respite funds for compensation to victims of the Bodija bomb blast until Fayose called him out. According to him, he kept the savings (possibly in a highly interest-yielding account) while seeing the victims of the bomb blast suffering until the victims protested. This kind of fraud and inhumanity should end his political career.'
- Prince Beyioku Oluwajuwonlo reacted: 'They just wasted money in the Charade Opposition Summit they did in Ibadan some days ago. They agreed to field one candidate to defeat Bola Tinubu, but now they are already divided so quickly. Bola Tinubu will retire all of them in 2027.'
- Praise Psalmist said: 'Give him time, and he will become president. It's just a matter of time. Maybe not 2027, but just watch.'
