Inside Nigeria’s political corridors, whispers of discontent are fast turning into open conversations. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, once known for his unflinching loyalty to political allies, is now reportedly considering a move that could redefine the dynamics of power within his administration and alter the balance of alliances in the South-South. At the heart of this political storm is Nyesom Wike, the fiery Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State.
According to multiple presidency insiders, pressure is mounting on Tinubu from within his own trusted circle — including respected Lagos political elders and long-time allies — to reconsider his relationship with Wike. The push, sources confirm, has intensified following a series of controversial public outbursts by the minister that have increasingly become a source of embarrassment for the presidency.
Wike’s trademark combative style, once celebrated as political courage, is now viewed by many in the administration as reckless, confrontational, and dangerously counterproductive.
The First Signs of a Rift
The first public hint that something was amiss came last week, when Wike was noticeably absent from the National Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa. The high-profile gathering, which brought together former presidents, governors, and past Chief Justices of Nigeria, was the kind of event Wike relished — a stage for power projection and political theater. Yet, this time, the FCT minister was represented by his deputy, Hajiya Mariya Mahmoud.
While no official reason was offered for his absence, insiders close to the presidency said it was “not coincidental.” According to one senior aide, the president’s team had quietly advised Wike to “lay low” following a series of media briefings in which his aggressive tone and inflammatory statements drew public criticism — not just toward him, but also toward Tinubu’s government.
“The president’s men are worried that Wike’s growing notoriety for inflammatory remarks and confrontational style is beginning to damage the image of the government,” the aide said.
Another senior official familiar with the matter told Signal.ng that while Tinubu still values Wike’s contributions to the FCT’s infrastructure transformation, he has grown increasingly uncomfortable with the minister’s “unfiltered” approach.
“Wike is delivering on infrastructure; that’s not in doubt,” the source said. “But his constant outbursts and threats during press conferences are becoming a liability. They create the impression of an administration that thrives on intimidation rather than engagement.”
The Lagos Elders’ Intervention
In a development that could reshape the political future of both men, members of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) elders’ council — formally known as the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) — have reportedly intervened.
The GAC, a powerful body made up of senior APC figures who have served as Tinubu’s moral and strategic compass since his days as Lagos State governor, recently met to discuss the growing fallout from the president’s association with Wike.
According to multiple sources privy to the discussions, the consensus was clear: Tinubu must “rethink his alliance with Wike” and start building bridges with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike’s political rival.
“The elders told the president that Wike has become a political baggage,” one insider revealed. “They said his style, his arrogance, and his penchant for controversy are beginning to stain the administration’s image. They advised that the president should start working with Fubara, who has shown restraint and humility despite being repeatedly provoked.”
The Fubara Factor
Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s relationship with Wike has been fraught with tension since the latter helped install him as successor in 2023. Barely months into office, their political romance collapsed into a bitter feud marked by accusations, impeachment threats, and public humiliation.
Yet, through the chaos, Fubara maintained a surprising calm. Even after facing suspension threats from the state assembly — dominated by Wike loyalists — he refused to attack his former mentor publicly. That quiet resilience, sources say, has impressed Tinubu’s Lagos inner circle.
One GAC elder, an 88-year-old veteran politician who has long served as Tinubu’s informal adviser, reportedly told the president during a private meeting in Lagos that “it is time to do away with Wike.” The elder’s message was blunt but measured: “Work with Fubara instead. He is calm, patient, and loyal. Wike is becoming a distraction you cannot afford before 2027.”
Another senior Lagos politician framed it more strategically, telling Tinubu that maintaining an alliance with Wike — a man increasingly unpopular in his home state — could cost the APC valuable ground in the South-South. “The Ijaw people are watching,” the elder reportedly said. “If the president continues to appear as if he is punishing Fubara, an Ijaw son, it could alienate the riverine population and jeopardize future electoral calculations.”
Inside the Presidency: A Divided House
While Tinubu is said to be giving serious thought to the elders’ counsel, the decision is far from straightforward. Within the Presidential Villa, opinions are divided.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s powerful Chief of Staff and a key ally of Wike, is reportedly opposed to any move that could see the minister sidelined. Gbajabiamila, insiders say, views Wike as an indispensable asset — a political bulldozer who delivers results, even if his methods are unorthodox.
“Gbajabiamila has told the president that removing Wike would be politically premature,” said one senior official. “He argues that Wike’s control of the FCT has strengthened the administration’s visibility and that his bluntness, though controversial, gives the government a populist edge.”
But the president’s mood, insiders say, has shifted. He has become increasingly cautious of being perceived as tolerating arrogance or impunity within his cabinet.
“The president is beginning to see the wisdom in the argument,” another official said. “He has asked for a full ministerial performance evaluation, specifically requesting that the FCT Ministry be reviewed in depth.”
Petitions, Allegations, and the Plot to “Ease Wike Out”
Sources inside the Villa told Signal.ng that the presidency has received “a growing number of petitions” against Wike — ranging from allegations of financial impropriety to abuse of power in the management of FCT projects and contracts.
While none of these petitions has been proven, their sheer volume has raised eyebrows within the inner circle. According to a top presidency source, Tinubu has ordered a “discreet verification exercise” to examine the credibility of these claims.
The goal, insiders say, is not to publicly humiliate Wike but to build a quiet, evidence-based case that could make his eventual exit appear as a matter of due process rather than politics.
“The plan is to ease him out gracefully around the president’s third anniversary in office,” one source disclosed. “By then, a report will be ready, and if the allegations are substantiated, the presidency can cite accountability and administrative discipline as reasons for his removal.”
The same source added that Tinubu’s team is “watching public sentiment closely.” The strategy, he said, is to ensure that any action against Wike aligns with the people’s expectations rather than appearing as a political vendetta.
Wike’s Dilemma: Between Legacy and Isolation
For Wike, the latest developments mark a dangerous turn in a political journey defined by defiance and domination. Once hailed as the “Lion of Rivers,” he built his brand on raw charisma and a reputation for fearlessness. But his current predicament shows the limits of confrontation as a long-term strategy.
In Abuja, his critics describe him as “a man at war with everyone.” In Rivers, he faces growing isolation, with many former loyalists now aligning quietly with Fubara. Within the presidency, even some of his supporters admit privately that his temper and lack of diplomacy are eroding the goodwill he once enjoyed.
“Wike doesn’t understand that Abuja is not Port Harcourt,” one presidency aide said. “Here, every word he says reflects on the president. Every fight he picks creates an impression of chaos in the government.”
Tinubu’s Calculus
For President Tinubu, known for his political pragmatism, the decision is not merely about personality — it’s about survival. With 2027 on the horizon, every alliance counts. The South-South remains a region of strategic importance, not just for electoral votes but also for its control over Nigeria’s oil wealth.
Abandoning Wike could alienate a powerful political operator, but keeping him could deepen public resentment. It’s a delicate balance between loyalty and legacy.
One senior source summed it up succinctly: “The president is weighing two paths — stay with Wike and risk alienating key stakeholders, or let him go and risk losing a battle-hardened enforcer. Either way, it’s a defining decision for his presidency.”
The Road Ahead
As the quiet investigation continues and pressure from Lagos elders intensifies, one thing is clear: the political honeymoon between Tinubu and Wike is waning. Whether it ends in a quiet reshuffle or a public rupture remains to be seen.
For now, Wike continues to run the FCT — inaugurating roads, announcing new policies, and occasionally sparring with journalists. But beneath the surface, his political footing is weakening.
In the game of power that Tinubu has mastered over decades, alliances are transactional, not eternal. And if history is any guide, the president’s final decision will not be sentimental — it will be strategic.
As one of his closest confidants put it, “Bola Tinubu never drops anyone without a reason. But when he does, it means that person has outlived their usefulness.”
For Nyesom Wike, that moment may be drawing closer than he realizes.
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