The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged Rivers State residents to reject opposition figures Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi, describing them as political gamblers without clear visions for Nigeria’s development.
Wike, who is also the National Leader of the Rainbow Coalition, made the remarks during a town hall meeting in Ayama, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he mobilised support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Addressing traditional rulers, party faithful and community stakeholders, the minister warned voters against entrusting the country’s future to politicians who repeatedly contest presidential elections without demonstrating a clear capacity to address Nigeria’s challenges.
“Don’t trust your destiny to political gamblers. Don’t trust your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people,” Wike told the gathering.
He specifically criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, describing them as politicians who should not be trusted with the country’s leadership.
“These people are political gamblers, and you cannot give your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people. You cannot hand over your destiny to political gamblers.
“Give your destiny to somebody we know, who has tried all this and has done it,” he said.
Wike argued that repeated attempts to win the presidency, without a clear and practical development agenda, would not provide the solutions Nigerians need.
Drawing comparisons with international political figures, he cited former United States President Abraham Lincoln as an example of someone whose repeated political efforts were driven by a vision, arguing that Atiku’s continued presidential ambitions were motivated by a desire to recover political investments.
The minister also challenged Amaechi to demonstrate his developmental contributions to Abua/Odual, insisting that voters should assess politicians based on their records in office rather than campaign promises.
Defending his own record as a former governor of Rivers State, Wike maintained that tangible projects and development initiatives should guide the electorate’s decisions in the 2027 general elections.
He also praised the Tinubu administration, crediting it with stabilising key sectors of the economy and restoring industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.
Wike urged residents of Abua/Odual to support Tinubu’s re-election and vote for candidates aligned with the Rainbow Coalition in the forthcoming elections.
He endorsed Kinsley Chinda as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Felix Obua for Rivers West Senatorial District and Solomon Boss for the Abua/Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency.
However, he urged voters to support John Iderima, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Abua/Odual State Constituency.
Speaking at the meeting, Chinda commended Wike for his grassroots mobilisation efforts, particularly his engagement with communities to secure support for Tinubu and other candidates backed by the Rainbow Coalition.
He said the coalition would adopt a people-oriented governance approach if elected into office.
“This is a system that we will sustain when we come into government. We have learnt from him, and we will continue.
“It will be a bottom-up approach; the people will decide and determine their fate in government,” Chinda said.
Earlier, Professor Continue Eketu, who spoke on behalf of Abua/Odual communities, described Wike as his political idol and highlighted projects executed in the local government area during his tenure as governor.
Eketu praised Wike’s leadership style and declared that the communities had resolved to support candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition.
“We have decided and agreed to vote massively for all candidates of the Rainbow Coalition,” he said.
