by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned that those pushing for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election are deliberately plotting to destabilise the country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday night, Wike described the calls as hypocritical, noting that the same political actors who frustrated Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015 are now urging his comeback.
“Anybody saying Jonathan should return because he will only do one term is only looking for a crisis. These are the same people who abandoned him in 2015. Why now? Jonathan has earned global respect as a statesman, and they just want to drag him into unnecessary conflict,” Wike said.
The minister cautioned against attempts to upset the nation’s political balance under the guise of a “one-term presidency,” stressing that such campaigns are insincere.
On the Tinubu administration, Wike admitted that Nigeria is going through economic hardship but defended the president’s tough policy choices as necessary for long-term recovery.
“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 added.
He also dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent warning of a looming revolution over hunger and poverty, accusing him of double standards.
“Atiku was vice president for eight years. Why didn’t he lay the foundation to prevent hunger then? 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,” Wike said.
Wike urged Nigerians to remain patient with the current administration while warning opposition figures against exploiting economic difficulties for political advantage.