Arise Television’s Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is positioning himself for the 2031 presidential election.
Oseni made the claim on ARISE News, monitored by The News Chronicle on Monday, while discussing the recent disagreement between Wike and some governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said President Bola Tinubu would be cautious about escalating the dispute because of his political interests ahead of the 2027 election.
“You see, I know this country too well. President Tinubu will never rock the boat. He will just try to give a gloomier response to settle the matter between Wike and the governors because he wants to win an election,” Oseni said.
According to the broadcaster, Tinubu’s approach was aimed at keeping Wike on his side ahead of the election, while still allowing the President to respond to some of the issues raised by the FCT minister.
Oseni, however, said the major political contest involving Wike could emerge after the 2027 election, particularly over the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“But you see, where the real tussle will be is after elections have been won or lost,” he said.
He also questioned how Wike would seek to rebuild the PDP after what he described as the minister’s role in weakening the party and supporting a faction within it.
“All of this Wike is playing, forget it, he has presidential ambitions. Anyway, he ran in the last election cycle, so all of this is strategically positioning himself for the next eight years when power will come back to the South,” Oseni said.
He added that Wike’s age could be a factor in his reported long-term political calculations.
“And you see, the good thing about the game which he is playing is that age is on his side,” Oseni said.
