Wike Declares Self ‘Nigeria’s Most Abused Politician,’ Sets 2026 Start for Rivers Politics

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, on Saturday declared that he currently stands as the most abused politician in Nigeria after President Bola Tinubu, while asserting that active politicking in Rivers State will formally commence in January 2026.

Wike made these assertions during a special thanksgiving service organized by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, and his family in the Ochiba community, Ahoada East Local Government Area, the Minister’s hometown in Rivers State.

Addressing a gathering of supporters, the former Rivers State Governor positioned himself as a figure of unwavering principle and loyalty, particularly to President Tinubu, whose electoral mandate he credited the local populace for helping to secure.

“In Nigerian politics today, if you want to know after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the next most abused politician is me,” Wike stated, framing the criticism he faces as a consequence of his steadfast commitment to political agreements. “Why are they abusing me? Because they know agreement is what? When we have agreed on something, let’s implement it.”

He used the occasion to issue a clear timeline for the state’s political activities, signalling a period of relative calm before intensified engagement. “From January next year, politics will start in Rivers State,” he announced, cautioning against premature manoeuvring. “Nobody can use us. So let me say yes and agree later. No, I can’t do that. Whatever you have agreed in the morning, it was agreed in the night.”

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Wike praised the resilience of the people of Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas, whom he credited for standing firm when support for Tinubu was politically challenging. He drew a pointed contrast between their early support and what he suggested was the belated alignment of others—an apparent veiled reference to the recent defection of the state’s Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“So all these people you are now seeing singing ‘on your mandate we stand,’ that time, when they were needed most, they couldn’t sing that,” Wike remarked. “Now that you stood and voted for him… we have come to tell you to remain strong.”

In a mocking tone, the FCT Minister also addressed the motivations behind the verbal attacks directed at him, suggesting they were often a calculated strategy for financial gain. “One thing you should know about Nigerian politics… How you can make money now is like that. You go and say, ‘this enough is enough for Wike.’ Who deals with Wike, they drop (dish out money). If you don’t say you will deal with Wike, you won’t get money,” he quipped, alluding to a rumoured N600 billion fund.

Earlier in the event, the host, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, delivered a glowing tribute to Wike’s legacy as governor, specifically highlighting his development impact on the Ekpeye Kingdom. He credited Wike for elevating seven traditional stools to first-class status, a gesture previous administrations had denied the area.

“For the first time, Ekpeye had seven first-class stools. Before now, we only had one. Governors came and left. None of them agreed to elevate our stools. Only him did that for us,” Nwuche stated. He further praised Wike’s record of empowering followers, asserting, “Nobody who follows Wike can say that he hasn’t been impacted on positively.”