Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), of disrespecting Nigeria’s national symbols and attempting to divide the country by refusing to stand for the national anthem.
Gatekeepers News reports that Wike made the allegation on Friday during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State. The meeting was organised by the Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.
Addressing traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and party supporters, Wike argued that a presidential candidate who disrespects national symbols should not be entrusted with the country’s leadership.
“A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be president of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria [was sung], he stood up,” he said.
He alleged that Obi’s actions suggested a lack of commitment to Nigeria and could deepen divisions in the country if he became president.
“In a way, he does not belong to this country. In a way, he has said he does not belong to this country; that if you give him the president, he would do a different thing that will divide Nigeria.
“A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic national anthem must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country,” Wike added.
The FCT minister also questioned Obi’s political history, alleging that the former Anambra governor had a pattern of leaving political parties whenever they encountered internal crises instead of remaining to resolve their differences.
He further faulted Obi for failing to conduct local government elections throughout his eight-year tenure as Anambra governor, describing the decision as contrary to his stated commitment to the rule of law.
Wike also criticised the opposition coalition involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
He questioned their records in public office, citing what he described as the condition of seaports during Amaechi’s tenure as transport minister. He also referenced the demolition of Government Secondary School, Ogu, without its reconstruction and alleged unfulfilled promises to build a 1,000-bed specialist hospital during Amaechi’s tenure as Rivers governor.
The minister urged residents of Ogu-Bolo to disregard claims made by opposition politicians on television, insisting that the Tinubu administration had delivered projects to the community.
Among the interventions he listed were the construction of the Ogu-Bolo Civic Centre, the federal appointment of community indigene Boma Iyaye and the conduct of local government elections.
Wike also called on residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, Kingsley Chinda’s governorship ambition in Rivers State and APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats.
Backstory
Obi and supporters of the NDC recited Nigeria’s former national anthem during a town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday.
A viral video from the event showed Obi, Funso Doherty, the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos, and other supporters remaining seated when attendees were initially asked to stand for the current national anthem.
The event anchor subsequently switched to the former anthem, which those present recited.
During the rendition, Obi faced the crowd and raised two fingers on both hands to form the NDC logo.
