Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has said he intends to put pressure on opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general election.

Wike made the statement on Friday in Abuja while speaking with journalists during an inspection of ongoing projects in the FCT.

The minister was asked about the reaction of opposition figures to his recent political engagements, particularly his meeting with Osun State Governor-elect Ademola Adeleke.

Wike said he was not concerned about whether Atiku, Obi or other opposition figures were comfortable with his political activities.

He said his focus was on defeating his political opponents, adding that he had no interest in making them feel comfortable.

Explaining his position, Wike said:

“I have told you, when you say we are leading opposition, I have told you there is no opposition. What do you have? People who are just trying to see whether they can be relevant. Who is the opposition leader now? Obviously, it would have been PDP, but because of the crisis we have had, you can’t see a formidable party that you will call the leading opposition party.

“So, I don’t care; whatever they feel is not my business. I don’t want them to feel well. It is not my wish that they should feel well. My business is to make them not feel well all day, because they will be having high blood pressure. I guess that is my job — to make them have high blood pressure.

“I am not here to make them do well. No, no, no. You see, when you are having a contest with somebody, your business is not to make him feel well. Your business is to make sure that you beat him thoroughly, and he will be sick all through.

“And that is what we are doing to them. So, we have to be patient. It doesn’t give me a headache. Everybody knows now how they feel. I will add more crises for them. So, that’s my position.”

Wike also dismissed the idea that the opposition currently has a dominant political party capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

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According to him, the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has weakened its position as the leading opposition platform.

The minister also spoke about Adeleke’s recent political activities and rejected claims that the governor-elect’s victory represented a boost for the opposition.

Wike said Adeleke remained a PDP member but contested under another platform because of the crisis within the party.

He said:

“When you say opposition, I have told you, I don’t know what you call opposition. I say there is no opposition now. Adeleke is only a member of the PDP, but because of the internal wrangling, and for him to secure a ticket to run for a second term, he had to find a platform. And that platform happens to be a good party, but he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

“I am not — I am sorry — all those African Democratic Congress ADC people who are talking about, ‘Oh, they helped Adeleke to win,’ you have seen that they just wanted to harvest what they never planted.

“And what happened last night was a meeting to review the Rainbow Coalition, and he is supporting Mr President. It is a different party. I am supporting Mr President. I am in a different party. So, it is a Rainbow Coalition. I told you that the 2027 election would be the easiest election.

“So, Adeleke is fully supporting Mr President, and so we had to meet last night and encourage ourselves to continue. In the next few weeks, watch what is going to happen. You will see the Rainbow Coalition in this country supporting Mr President.

“So, that was what happened last night. You will see more, and that is why I said this election will be concluded before it starts. So, there is nothing anybody can do. Sorry, Adeleke belongs to us, and we all belong to Mr President.”

Wike also said Adeleke’s support for President Bola Tinubu would be part of a wider political realignment ahead of the 2027 election.

He said more politicians could join the Rainbow Coalition in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the minister inspected the IBB International Golf Club, which is undergoing rehabilitation.

Wike said the project was important because members of the diplomatic community use the facility.

Explaining why the government intervened in the rehabilitation, he said:

“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t interfere. We are the elite team. I like to interfere where the poor people will benefit. But again, you see the importance of this. We have diplomats. This is where they come and play golf, and Mr President directed that this golf course must be ready and reopened by December”.

Wike said Julius Berger was brought back to handle the renovation because the company originally built the facility and understood its design.

He said the physical work should be completed by November, with the golf club expected to reopen in December.

The minister also said the government would not continue to fund the club after its reopening.

According to him, the management must generate enough revenue to maintain the facility and run its operations without depending on public funds.
By Rachael Omidiji
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