Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly criticised those calling for the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2027 presidential election, warning that such moves are dangerous and could push the country into serious political crisis.
Wike made the statement during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, monitored in Abuja on Wednesday night.
The former Rivers State governor expressed concern over growing calls by certain political groups for Jonathan to contest the 2027 elections under the idea that he would only serve a single term, in line with the constitution.
According to Wike, these same individuals had betrayed Jonathan during the 2015 elections and have no genuine interest in the country’s stability.
“Anybody saying Jonathan should return because he will only do one term is only looking for crisis,” Wike said.
“These are the same people who abandoned him in 2015. Why now? Jonathan has made a name for himself globally and they just want to drag him into unnecessary conflict.”
He described the idea of a “one-term presidency” as a deceptive political strategy designed to manipulate the system and create unnecessary division, especially among the southern political class.
“It is not about Jonathan. It’s about what they stand to gain. They want to destabilise the political arrangement and heat up the country ahead of 2027,” Wike warned.
Goodluck Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, lost his re-election bid to then-opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari. Since leaving office, he has gained international recognition for his peaceful conduct during the transition and his continued involvement in global peace missions. Many Nigerians regard him as a symbol of peaceful democracy.
Wike noted that dragging Jonathan back into the murky waters of local politics would only tarnish his reputation and create division in a country already struggling with economic and security challenges.
Speaking on the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Wike admitted that Nigerians are facing hard times but insisted that the president has taken “bold and necessary” steps to fix the economy.
“Yes, there is hardship. I agree. But no one can deny that this government is making efforts to improve things. I see the projects in Abuja daily; they are evidence that something is happening,” he said.
The minister explained that while things may be difficult now, Nigerians need to be patient as economic reforms take time to yield results. He cited ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja as signs that the Tinubu administration is working.
Wike also urged opposition politicians to avoid exploiting the current hardship for cheap political points, saying that constructive criticism is welcome but incitement is dangerous.
Wike also used the opportunity to take a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently warned of a possible revolution in Nigeria due to rising poverty and hunger.
“Atiku was vice president for eight years. Why didn’t he lay the foundation to prevent hunger then?” Wike asked.
“Now he keeps talking about hunger and revolution. For me, I don’t even bother reading what he says, because there is no truth in it.”
He accused Atiku of playing politics with the suffering of Nigerians and failing to offer concrete solutions during his time in power or even now as an opposition figure.
Wike, a former PDP governor who later supported Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) government, has remained a controversial but influential political figure in national politics.
He ended by urging politicians to place the country’s peace and unity above personal ambition, especially as the countdown to the 2027 general elections begins.
“We must not allow personal interests to destroy the peace of the nation. Nigeria is bigger than anybody,” he concluded.
