Amidst growing pressure from political opponents, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has publicly stated that only President Bola Tinubu holds the authority to remove him from office.
Coalition Demands Wike's Sack
The calls for Wike's dismissal have intensified, primarily fueled by the ongoing political feud in Rivers State between the minister and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. A coalition of groups within the ruling All Progressives Congress, including the APC Leaders Forum and the Tinubu/Shettima Solidarity Movement, recently issued an open letter to the President.
In the letter, the coalition urged for the immediate removal of Nyesom Wike as FCT Minister. They leveled serious allegations against him, citing insubordination, engagement in anti-party activities, and posing a threat to national unity as the primary justifications for their demand.
Wike's Defiant Response
Wike responded to these demands with characteristic defiance during a "thank you" visit to the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council on 11 January 2026. He dismissed the critics, asserting that the power to sack him rests solely with the man who appointed him.
"If my appointor believes that I cannot offer anything again, he has the right. It's not that you should tell him," Wike declared, directly addressing his detractors.
He turned the criticism on its head, suggesting that the constant mention of his name is a backhanded compliment to his effective performance. "I am proud, and Rivers people are proud, and we can tell Nigerians that we have not disappointed them as far as FCT is concerned," he stated emphatically.
Wike argued that scrutiny is the price of success. "If you are not doing well, nobody will talk about you. But because we are doing well, people must talk about us," he added.
Wike on 2027 and Atiku's Camp
Beyond the immediate calls for his sack, Wike also used the opportunity to take aim at political rivals looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election. He specifically targeted supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, questioning their electoral viability.
"Those who say they are coming from Atiku's side, I don't understand people who couldn't give Atiku Abubakar ten percent in 2023 are people who are now saying they want to deliver the presidency," Wike said mockingly.
He framed the upcoming political contest as a settled matter in favour of the incumbent, stating, "We have settled the issue of presidency come 2027." Wike concluded by challenging his opponents, "The good thing is everybody is saying we support Tinubu. Let us wrestle this one here, and let's see who will win."
The minister's comments solidify his position as a central and unapologetic figure in Nigeria's current political landscape, directly linking his fate in the FCT to the broader power dynamics within the APC and the nation.
