The Digest:
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has asserted that the people of Rivers State do not require the support of the state's sitting governor to mobilise for President Bola Tinubu's anticipated 2027 re-election campaign. Speaking at the commissioning of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors headquarters in Port Harcourt, Wike stated that leaders, including senators, National Assembly members, and party chairmen, were capable of independent mobilisation driven by genuine conviction, not external inducement. He declared Rivers State a "no-go area" and a stronghold for Tinubu, boasting that support had been organised down to the local government level. Wike commended the group's coordinator, Desmond Akawor, for grassroots mobilisation and challenged other states to emulate Rivers' commitment, which he described as being demonstrated through action rather than mere words.
Key Points:
- The statement is a direct political challenge to the current Rivers State government, highlighting a significant rift within the state's political structure.
- It positions Wike as the central figure orchestrating Tinubu's political machinery in Rivers, independent of the state's executive authority.
- The rhetoric emphasizes organic, conviction-based support, potentially to counter narratives of patronage-driven politics.
- It signals an early and aggressive start to campaign structures for the 2027 elections, well ahead of the official cycle.
- The declaration aims to project an image of an impregnable political base for President Tinubu in the oil-rich state.
Sources: Leadership, Tribune
