FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has asked state governments to borrow a leaf from the Federal Capital Territory’s Rainbow Coalition arrangement, arguing that cross-party cooperation has delivered peace and stability in the territory and could do the same nationwide.
Wike spoke in Kuje Area Council during an engagement with political leaders, traditional rulers, women and youths, where he made the case for politicians to work together regardless of party affiliation in order to lower the temperature of politics and speed up development.
He pointed to the working relationship between the APC and the PDP in the FCT as proof that rivals can pursue common goals without rancour.
According to him, “If Nigerian politics can come to this level, we will not be hearing about fighting; we will not be seeing ourselves killing each other.”
The minister said Rivers State had also keyed into the model and encouraged leaders in other states to do likewise as the 2027 elections approach, warning that political rivalry should never be allowed to turn violent. He also reminded elected officials of their duty to stay close and accountable to the people who voted them in.
Both FCT party chairmen — Tanko Yamawo of the APC and Ismael Dogora of the PDP — credited the prevailing peace in the territory to the harmony among stakeholders.
On a separate matter, Wike has described as fake a social media claim that he endorsed the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Ishaku Abbo.
Through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister said he has no ties to the LP or any of its candidates in Adamawa.
The viral post had allegedly quoted Wike as advising Adamawa voters to choose wisely and calling Abbo the best man for the job.
Wike denied the statement, maintaining that he never endorsed Abbo or any other LP candidate in the state. He advised the public to ignore the report, saying it is false and misleading, and stressed that any endorsement from him would be made public by him personally — not through unverified social media posts.
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