Wike Warns Rivers Voters Against ‘Political Gamblers’

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and national leader of the Rainbow Coalition, Nyesom Wike, has warned Rivers State residents against entrusting their political future to what he described as “political gamblers” without clear vision or verifiable records of development.

Wike spoke during a Rainbow Coalition town hall meeting in Ayama, Abua/Odual local government area of Rivers State, where he mobilised support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and urged voters to prioritise proven performance over political rhetoric.

He described the Rainbow Coalition as a broad political alliance committed to securing victory for Tinubu and other candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Addressing traditional rulers, party supporters and community stakeholders, the minister cautioned voters against politicians who repeatedly seek the presidency without offering clear solutions to the country’s challenges.

“Don’t trust your destiny to political gamblers. Don’t trust your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people,” he told the gathering.

Wike identified former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, among politicians he accused of treating presidential contests as games of chance.

“These people are political gamblers, and you cannot give your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people. You cannot hand over your destiny to political gamblers.

“Give your destiny to somebody we know, who has tried all this and has done it,” he said.

The FCT minister argued that repeated presidential bids without a clear governance agenda would not address Nigeria’s development challenges. He contrasted what he described as Atiku’s recurring presidential ambition with the experience of historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, whose repeated electoral contests, he said, were driven by a clear national vision.

Wike also challenged opposition politicians to demonstrate their contributions to Abua/Odual, insisting that project delivery should be a major consideration in determining voters’ choices.

Defending his record as former governor of Rivers State, he highlighted projects executed by his administration in the area and urged residents to support leaders with demonstrable achievements.

The minister further praised Tinubu’s administration for what he described as efforts to stabilise key sectors of the economy and restore industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.

He called on Abua/Odual residents to support Tinubu and other candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 elections.

Wike urged the electorate to vote for Tinubu for president, Kingsley Chinda for governor, Felix Obua for Rivers West Senatorial District and Solomon Boss for the Abua/Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency, all under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also appealed to voters to support John Iderima, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Abua/Odual State Constituency.

Chinda, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, commended Wike for taking the coalition’s campaign to communities across the state to mobilise support for Tinubu and other candidates.

He said the coalition would adopt a grassroots-driven approach to governance if elected.

“This is a system that we will sustain when we come into government. We have learnt from him, and we will continue.

“It will be a bottom-up approach; the people will decide and determine their fate in government,” Chinda said.

Earlier, Professor Continue Eketu, who spoke on behalf of Abua/Odual communities, described Wike as his political idol and listed projects executed in the local government area during the minister’s tenure as governor.

Eketu praised Wike’s leadership style and expressed confidence in the coalition’s electoral prospects.

“We have decided and agreed to vote massively for all candidates of the Rainbow Coalition,” he said.