Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said ruling parties naturally benefit when opposition parties are engulfed in internal crises, arguing that a fragmented opposition cannot effectively challenge an incumbent government.
Speaking during a media parley, Wike said it is in the political interest of any ruling party to hope that its opponents remain divided rather than united.
“The ruling party finds out that you have that kind of a purpose. What will be their prayer? Their prayer will be, may you not resolve the crisis. May you not resolve the crisis,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor urged opposition parties to resolve their internal disagreements and strengthen their organisational structures if they hope to remain credible alternatives in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Recalling the crisis that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2017, Wike said party leaders resisted what they believed were attempts by the then-ruling party to weaken the PDP by influencing its leadership.
“In 2017, PDP had a problem. We saw that the ruling party at that time wanted to destroy PDP by imposing a party chairman on us. We saw it clearly. People like us came out to say we will not accept it. We are going to fight it,” Wike stated.
According to him, the PDP’s ability to overcome that crisis helped preserve the party’s strength ahead of subsequent elections.
“We stood our ground, and we won,” he added.
Wike argued that the existence of a strong opposition is essential for Nigeria’s democratic development, noting that no ruling party should be allowed to dominate the political space without meaningful competition.
He pointed to the PDP’s participation in the 2019 and 2023 general elections as evidence that a united opposition remains capable of mounting a serious challenge.
“The ruling party is strong. We have to challenge the ruling party,” he said.
However, he lamented that internal conflicts have weakened many opposition parties in recent years.
“But now, everything appears to have fallen apart,” he remarked.
Wike also addressed his political disagreement with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, saying the crisis began when the governor allegedly attempted to establish an independent political structure shortly after assuming office.
According to him, Fubara should have consolidated the political structure through which he emerged rather than distancing himself from those who supported his election.
“He tried to do it by himself, and he wanted to set up his own structure as against the structure that built him. It did not take up to 100 days, and we saw it. We said something must be fundamentally wrong,” Wike said.
He warned political leaders against abandoning the allies and structures that contributed to their emergence, arguing that doing so could create openings for political opponents.
The FCT minister also rejected allegations that his dispute with Fubara stemmed from demands for financial support.
Describing the claims as politically motivated, Wike said accusations of seeking money are common whenever political disagreements arise.
“Forget about people who say you were asking him for money. You know one thing in politics is that the moment you disagree on an issue, the only thing they can use to get the support of the people is that they are asking me for money,” he said.
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He maintained that his primary interest was ensuring Rivers State continued the developmental projects initiated during his administration.
“We laid the foundation; he should be able to continue from there, and we will give him all the necessary support,” Wike added.
The minister further advised political office holders to carefully evaluate the advice they receive from associates, warning that not everyone around a leader acts in the leader’s best interest.
He concluded by reiterating that opposition parties must strengthen their internal structures and resolve lingering disputes if they hope to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative to the ruling party.
