Rufai Oseni’s Wike warning urges Tinubu to be cautious with the FCT minister amid Atiku, Obi and 2027 political tensions
Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in Lagos, urged President Bola Tinubu to exercise caution in his political relationship with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following Wike’s warning about the political consequences of a possible Tinubu defeat in the 2027 presidential election.
Also read: Kebbi 2027: Idris, Tafida Clash Over New Running Mate
Wike made the remarks during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, September 2, while explaining his continued support for Tinubu’s re-election despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike said he could become a major target of opposition politicians, particularly former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, if Tinubu failed to secure another term in office.
“If anything happens, and Mr President fails today, I will be the first politician that Atiku, Obi will hunt for his head,” Wike said.
The statement prompted Oseni to question why Wike appeared concerned about a possible political backlash if he remained confident about the decisions he had taken.
“So why is Mr Wike afraid today? Why is he afraid that if Atiku Abubakar gets in, he’s going to be witch-hunted?” Oseni asked during The Morning Show.
Oseni said Wike was entitled to reject Atiku politically, but criticised his conduct during the 2023 presidential election, particularly his opposition to Atiku’s campaign in Rivers State.
“I don’t have problems with him not accepting to support Atiku, but what I have problems with is that he used his high-handedness as governor to ensure that Atiku did not campaign in Rivers State,” Oseni said.
The broadcaster also questioned Wike’s concern about Obi, referring to controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election results and the political dispute that followed.
“Mr Wike, why are you scared? Why do you think they will witch-hunt you? Is there anything you want to tell us? Because if you are proud of your actions, you should not fear a witch hunt,” Oseni said.
Oseni’s Wike warning then shifted towards Tinubu, with the broadcaster expressing concern about the consequences if the relationship between the President and the FCT minister eventually breaks down.
According to Oseni, Wike has previously fallen out with political associates and could potentially reveal details about his dealings with Tinubu if their relationship deteriorates.
“You see, for all of those that do things with him, in all of this, the person I pity the most, and I have a very great pity for, is President Tinubu,” Oseni said.
“The day he quickly falls out with President Tinubu, this Wike will talk, and he will talk very well.”
Oseni therefore urged Tinubu to ensure that his dealings with Wike would be defensible if they became public.
“President Tinubu, I hope whatever you are doing with Wike are things that we can say in public,” he said.
The warning comes against the backdrop of Wike’s complicated political history with both the PDP and Tinubu’s administration.
Wike was one of the five PDP governors who formed the G5 after the party’s 2022 presidential primary, which Atiku won.
The dispute over the party’s presidential ticket and the demand for greater regional balance eventually contributed to the G5 governors refusing to support Atiku’s 2023 campaign.
After the election, Wike accepted Tinubu’s appointment as FCT minister despite remaining a PDP member.
His continued support for Tinubu has since created an unusual political alliance ahead of 2027, with Wike working for the re-election of a President whose party is the APC while maintaining his membership of the opposition PDP.
Oseni also recalled Wike’s previous criticism of political godfatherism, particularly during the political crisis involving former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
“This was the same Wike, if you remember, when Ambode was going back and forth with President Tinubu, he told him that we don’t allow godfathers in Rivers,” Oseni said.
The broadcaster argued that Wike’s present relationship with Tinubu should therefore be approached with caution because of his previous political disagreements with allies and associates.
Oseni further said he knew people who were once close to Wike but had subsequently fallen out with him.
Wike, for his part, has continued to defend his support for Tinubu and has presented the President’s re-election as an important political objective.
During the Port Harcourt media chat, Wike said his attention was firmly focused on helping Tinubu retain the presidency in 2027.
“When I am eating, I think about the president’s reelection. Everything I am doing now is about the president’s reelection,” Wike said.
The FCT minister also argued that allowing Atiku to gain political ground in Rivers State would undermine Tinubu’s chances in the state.
The exchange underscores the increasingly intense political calculations surrounding the 2027 election, with Wike tying his political future closely to Tinubu’s re-election while opposition figures remain critical of the alliance.
For Tinubu, Oseni’s warning highlights the delicate nature of the relationship with Wike as the 2027 contest draws closer.
Also read: Kebbi 2027: Idris, Tafida Clash Over New Running Mate
For Wike, however, his public commitment to the President suggests that he remains prepared to play a prominent role in the coming electoral battle.
