Wike urges opposition parties to acknowledge Tinubu’s performance and abandon do-or-die politics during his monthly media chat in Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged opposition parties in Nigeria to acknowledge President Bola Tinubu’s achievements, warning against treating politics as a do-or-die affair.
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Wike made the remarks on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during his monthly media chat in Abuja, where he criticised what he described as the opposition’s reluctance to recognise the president’s performance.
According to the minister, political disagreements should not prevent opposition figures from acknowledging government policies or actions they consider beneficial to the country.
He argued that opposing a ruling party should not automatically mean dismissing everything its administration has done.
“The time has come that not because you are in the opposition party and then you say the man who is in charge of the affairs of the country has done nothing just because of the sake that I’m in opposition, that is not fair,” Wike said.
The minister maintained that political competition should not be reduced to an all-or-nothing struggle for power.
“We have taken politics to a level that it must not be played that it’s all do-or-die affairs,” he stated.
Wike said he believed Tinubu had performed well, while suggesting that opposition parties were more focused on replacing the ruling administration than recognising its achievements.
“For us, we think the president has done well, it’s just that the opposition wants to take over power,” he said.
He further argued that opposition parties would continue to criticise the government regardless of its actions because of their desire to win political power.
The minister expressed concern about what he described as a failure by opposition figures to give Nigerians a balanced account of developments under the current administration.
According to him, political actors should be prepared to acknowledge positive developments even when they are associated with a party they do not belong to.
Wike also challenged members of opposition parties to speak openly when they believe government policies or actions are beneficial to the country.
He said national interest should take precedence over partisan loyalty, urging politicians to distinguish between legitimate criticism and opposition driven solely by the desire to gain power.
“But the way the opposition is going now is a bit of a concern to us because they are not telling Nigerians the truth,” he said.
He added that political affiliation should not prevent individuals from acknowledging developments they believe could benefit the country.
“When you see something that will help your country, come out and say it, it doesn’t matter if you are in opposition or not,” Wike stated.
His comments come as political parties and prominent figures position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with debates over Tinubu’s record and the opposition’s strategy likely to remain central to political discussions.
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Wike’s assessment of the president’s performance reflects his stated position, while opposition parties and other Nigerians may hold differing views on the administration’s policies and outcomes.
