My Job Is to Give Opposition Leaders High Blood Pressure — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said his role in the current political contest is to keep opposition leaders under pressure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the statement on Friday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The minister, who discussed the state of Nigeria’s opposition parties, said the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party had made it difficult to identify a strong opposition party capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress.

According to him, the internal crisis in the PDP had weakened its position as the country’s leading opposition party.

He said, “I don’t want them to feel well. It’s not my wish that they should feel well.

“My business is to make them not to feel well all the days. Because they will be having high blood pressure. Yes, that’s my job.”

Wike said political contests were not about making opponents comfortable but about defeating them decisively.

“You see, when you are having a contest with somebody, your business is not to make him feel well.

“Your business is to make sure you beat him thoroughly. So that he will be sick all through. And that’s what we are doing to them,” he added.

The former Rivers State governor, who remains a member of the PDP, has been at odds with several opposition figures amid the prolonged crisis within the party.

Wike also dismissed concerns about how former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, might be reacting to recent political developments.

He said their feelings were of no concern to him, adding that he would intensify the pressure if he knew they were worried.

“So how Atiku feels, how Obi feels, it does not give any headache. If I know how they feel now, I will add more crisis for them,” Wike stated.