Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the criticism of his Rainbow Coalition by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is rooted in issues beyond claims that the political platform could destabilise the All Progressives Congress.
Wike said the governors would understand the coalition better if they looked beyond what he described as the “undertones” surrounding the controversy, promising to disclose the reasons for their opposition during a television interview on Monday.
The FCT minister spoke while fielding questions from journalists after inspecting some ongoing road projects in Abuja.
The Rainbow Coalition has generated controversy within the APC and among opposition politicians, with its activities and support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election raising questions about its wider political calculations.
Asked whether the coalition was ultimately designed to position him for the 2031 presidential election, Wike dismissed the suggestion, saying political actors should not begin planning years ahead without first considering what the future holds.
“People take the position of God. First of all, you have to pray that you are alive. You must ask God, ‘Keep me alive till tomorrow. God, keep me alive till the next day.’ When God keeps you alive, then you now know what to do. How can you sit now and start planning about 2030, 31?”
He said the issue of succession would inevitably arise within the APC because Tinubu would not be eligible to contest for another presidential term after 2031.
“So, God is the one who says what will be. If one is alive, then you begin to see what we will do. In any case, what is wrong assuming that I am positioning myself? But that is not correct. But you will hear the full details today about all this cries about the Rainbow Coalition,” he said.
Wike added: “I have always said, mind you, too, that by 2031, as a sitting president, he will not be running. So, the president must also have interest on who will succeed him. And will I be at loggerheads with what the president is talking about? But people don’t understand. They are just afraid of their shadows, not me.”
The former Rivers State governor also pointed to his political experience, recalling that he contested the PDP presidential primary in 2022 and finished second behind Atiku Abubakar.
“First of all, you should know that I ran presidential primary in 2022, and I came second. If not for what happened, I would have emerged. So, I know this country very well. I am a politician of this country. I know the conspiracy of people, you know. So, am I positioning myself? In which of the parties am I positioning myself?” he asked.
Wike insisted that his immediate political objective was to ensure Tinubu's return to office in 2027, rather than prepare for a personal presidential bid.
He said he had consistently made his support for Tinubu clear and would continue to back the president.
“Today I will be on TVC by 5pm to 7pm. Probably Nigerians will hear me very well when I answer it. Just what I want to let you know: my concern is how the President will be re-elected for a second term. That is my concern.
“And I have made that known from the outset that I was going to support Mr President with all my might and strength,” he said.
Wike expressed particular concern over claims that the Rainbow Coalition was established to weaken or destabilise the APC, arguing that its activities were instead intended to broaden support for Tinubu.
“I am not bothered about accusations, but you see, it is very disappointing to hear some people say the Rainbow Coalition will destabilise their party. I don’t understand from which angle that will be,” he said.
He challenged Nigerians to watch his television appearance, saying he would explain what he described as the hidden issues behind the criticism.
“But just hear me very well today. This is an opportunity for Nigerians to tune in, and we will let Nigerians know what is really behind all these so-called cries about Rainbow Coalition.
“You will hear the full details today of why all this cry about Rainbow Coalition. I will tell you, and Nigerians will be shocked when they hear the full details about the so-called Rainbow Coalition. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag now, so just hold your breath,” he said.
The FCT minister also denied that the coalition had directed politicians or supporters to abandon other candidates.
According to him, the coalition's position was simply to encourage its members and other political actors who share its views to support Tinubu's re-election.
“It is not correct. I mean, we have not gone to anybody to say, ‘Don’t support anybody.’ We said all our party members, all those like-minds who are not APC members, to please ensure that they support Mr President,” Wike said.
He cited the activities of the G5 governors ahead of the 2023 presidential election as evidence that political groupings could take positions without necessarily threatening the ruling party.
“This is not the first time, first of all, in 2023 when it was G5, right? Why is it that nobody complained that it would destabilise the party? Did the President not win? Did it affect the APC controlling the National Assembly?” he asked.
Wike argued that the coalition could ultimately strengthen Tinubu's political position rather than weaken the APC.
“It is something that will even give him an advantage. But that is not the real cause of this cry you hear today. What is the real cry about the Rainbow Coalition? The undertones,” he said.
He added that Nigerians would be better placed to understand the controversy after hearing his explanation.
“Nigerians don’t understand that there are undertones to it, and we will let the cat out of the bag so Nigerians will be well-informed about the so-called cry about Rainbow Coalition,” he said.
Earlier, Wike inspected several road projects in the FCT as part of efforts to monitor their progress.
The projects included the ISEX 2 and Southern Parkway roads as well as the Nile University to Ring Road 3 project.
Wike said he was satisfied with the progress of work, adding that the contractors had committed to completing the projects by January 10, 2027.
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