FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has come out swinging against APC governors who publicly opposed his ‘rainbow coalition’ agenda, and he is not holding anything back.
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FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has never been a man to swallow his words, and this time is no different. After a group of APC governors held a press conference in Abuja on Monday, September 14, where they collectively vowed to resist and reject his so-called ‘rainbow coalition’ political movement, Wike fired back with the kind of response that only he can deliver.
In typical Rivers-man fashion, Wike did not waste time with pleasantries. He described the APC governors as “smart but politically lazy” — a statement that has since set tongues wagging across Nigeria’s political landscape.
What Is This ‘Rainbow Coalition’ About?
For those who may not be fully familiar with the drama, Wike’s ‘rainbow coalition’ is a cross-party political arrangement that has been making waves in Abuja circles. The concept involves drawing political allies from different parties — regardless of their party colours — to form a formidable power base. As a card-carrying PDP member who is currently serving under a Tinubu-led APC government, Wike himself is arguably the living definition of a rainbow coalition.
This arrangement, however, has not gone down well with several APC governors who see it as a threat to party structure and loyalty. Their press conference was a clear signal: we are not interested, and we will not support this.
Wike’s Sharp Response
But if those governors expected Wike to go quiet, they clearly do not know the man. The minister hit back, dismissing his critics as governors who may have impressive academic credentials and political titles, but lack the real-world political street sense needed to understand how power truly works in Nigeria.
By calling them “politically lazy,” Wike is essentially accusing them of relying on party structures and federal backing rather than doing the hard work of building genuine grassroots coalitions — the kind of coalition-building that he has built his entire career on.
Why This Matters for Nigerian Politics
This clash is bigger than just Wike versus some governors. It speaks to a deeper tension within Nigeria’s political ecosystem:
– Can cross-party alliances survive in a system built on winner-takes-all politics?
– Is party loyalty still sacred, or has it become a relic in today’s Nigerian political reality?
– Who truly controls political power — the parties, the governors, or the influential ministers who can mobilise across party lines?
Wike has always operated like a political entrepreneur — someone who sees opportunities where others see boundaries. Whether you admire him or not, his ability to remain relevant across administrations is something Nigerian political analysts cannot ignore.
The Bigger Picture
As Nigeria heads deeper into political maneuvering ahead of future elections, the battle over the ‘rainbow coalition’ idea will likely intensify. APC governors are clearly feeling threatened enough to hold a joint press conference — and that alone tells you that Wike’s moves are being taken seriously behind closed doors, even if they are being publicly dismissed.
One thing is certain: in Nigerian politics, the man who controls coalitions often controls the outcome. And Nyesom Wike, love him or loathe him, knows this better than most.
As we say in Nigeria — the market is not yet closed.
What do you think about Wike’s ‘rainbow coalition’ and the APC governors’ pushback? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below.
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