By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has claimed that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has been consistently criticizing President Bola Tinubu because he was not chosen as the vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Tuesday, Wike revealed that Lawal visited him at his home in Port Harcourt shortly after Tinubu announced Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
“He came to my house in Port Harcourt, in particular. He came with one of the former Speakers of the House of Representatives. His anger was that he thought Mr. President would have chosen him as a vice-presidential candidate. Having not done that, all hell must let loose,” Wike stated.
Wike argued that Lawal’s recent public criticism, which included calling President Tinubu “arrogant” and “unapproachable,” was not based on genuine concern for the country but on personal political disappointment. He dismissed Lawal as “not someone that should be taken seriously.”
“He’s not someone that should be taken seriously. A man who came out on national television, not to genuinely criticise what Mr. President has done wrong, but to accuse Mr. President simply because he has had a relationship with him, simply because he has had an opportunity to meet with Mr. President before that has given him the latitude to come out on national television to say the President of a country is full of himself.
“He doesn’t call him President Bola. But, Bola. You know, if you had a problem with Mr. President before he became President, there’s nothing wrong with finding a way for something to happen, for a difference to happen.”
Beyond the personal feud, Wike also weighed in on the political landscape, dismissing the recently formed opposition coalition, which has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform, as a non-entity.
He cited the results of the recent by-elections as proof that Nigerians have already rejected the coalition.
“There’s no coalition. Nigerians have already rejected them; the by-election is enough evidence. They did not make any impact,” he said.
Defending the Tinubu administration, Wike urged patience, stating that the President has only been in office for two years and cannot be expected to solve decades-old problems overnight.