‘When support was needed, they were silent’ — Wike takes aim at late Tinubu supporters

 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised individuals he said failed to publicly support President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general elections but are now claiming loyalty to his mandate.

Wike made the remarks on Saturday while addressing stakeholders after the annual Thanksgiving ceremony of the Chairman of the South-South Development Forum, Chibudom Nwuche. The event was held in Nwuche’s hometown of Ochigba community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“So, all these people now you are seeing singing ‘on your mandate we stand’, that time when they were needed most, they couldn’t do that.

“They couldn’t come out to say ‘vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu’,” Wike told the gathering.

The former Rivers State governor, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), played a controversial but decisive role in the 2023 elections by openly backing Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His political stance generated nationwide debate but proved influential in Rivers State, where Tinubu secured an unexpected victory.

According to Wike, while the political climate was tense during the election period, some individuals avoided openly declaring their support for the President. He insisted that he and his supporters remained steadfast throughout the campaign.

“And to the glory of God, we stood, and ‘on your mandate we stand’ today is very strong. So you are the ones who made the mandate strong as far as Rivers State is concerned.”

The minister questioned the credibility of those who have recently begun praising Tinubu and aligning themselves with his mandate, asking where they stood during the crucial moments of the 2023 elections.

“In 2023, it was difficult for so many people to come out and say, vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But we did it.

“When it was tough for people to say ‘on your mandate we stand,’ we stood firm and said ‘on your mandate we stand,’” Wike said.

He assured his supporters that their loyalty and sacrifices would not be forgotten.

“Now that you stood and voted for him and Rivers State won, I tell you, all your struggles will not go in vain,” he said.

Wike, however, did not mention the names of those he claimed benefited from the sacrifices made by others during the election.