Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained why he asked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to thank President Bola Tinubu and reaffirm his support for him after winning the 2026 governorship election.
Wike said his concern was to ensure that Adeleke kept his promise to support Tinubu after winning the election.
Speaking during a media chat, Wike said Adeleke was initially a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the party’s crisis led him to move to the Accord Party to secure his ticket.
“There are facts. ADC is there. Accord is there. They said I supported Adeleke. Adeleke was in PDP, PDP had crisis.
“He moved to Accord so that he would be able to get his ticket.
“And that election, I was not in Nigeria. I was in service country, I was not in Nigeria during the election.
“My concern, if Adeleke wins, will he still support Mr. President?”
Wike said he called Adeleke to confirm whether he would keep his promise to support Tinubu if he won the election.
“And I called him, because that’s my own interest. I called him, I said listen: ‘You have told me you support Mr. President. Are you going to keep to it?’ He said he was going to keep to it. I said okay.
“I wish him good luck. I don’t need to go to Osun.”
Wike said his position was not based on opposition to Adeleke, adding that he would have intervened if the Federal Government was fighting the governor.
“And that was why in the last media chat I said listen: ‘If Federal Government was fighting Adeleke, Federal Government…’ There is no way I will not be involved. Federal Government!
“But if APC is fighting Adeleke, I’m not a member of APC. I’m coming. Don’t raise your hand now, I’m coming. Don’t spoil this election now, it’s an election.”
He said his main focus was on how Tinubu could win the election and that he later asked Adeleke to publicly reaffirm his support for the President.
“Every day I sit, my strategy, my thinking: how will President win this election? Now after that election, go on record, go and ask Adeleke.”
Wike said he called Adeleke while he was in Croatia and reminded him of his earlier promise to support Tinubu.
“I told Adeleke, I called him when I was in Croatia. I said: ‘You told me you support Mr. President.’ He said yes. ‘Now you have won, issue a statement.
“Issue a statement that you still will support Mr. President, and thanking him for a free and fair election.’ I!”
According to Wike, he did not need to inform Tinubu about the role he played.
“I don’t need to go and tell anybody. I don’t need to go and tell Mr. President. I don’t need to.”
He said he also told Adeleke to present his certificate of return to Tinubu.
“I don’t need to call Mr. President, ‘I want to…’ No, I don’t need that. It is my job.”
Wike said the strategy was also aimed at preventing politicians from using the situation to seek favour from the President.
“Why was that strategy? To knock off these people you call politicians coming to the… to come and curry favor. When Adeleke issued that statement, ADC withdrew.”
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