Wike was appointed to serve a purpose, and the moment that purpose is fulfilled, Tinubu will cast him aside
Former Jigawa State Governor and prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s appointment of Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was driven purely by political calculations—not national interest or governance competence.
According to Lamido, once Tinubu secures his political foothold in Nigeria’s South-South region, Wike will be discarded.
Lamido made the assertion on Tuesday night during a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme. He claimed that Wike’s role in Tinubu’s cabinet is tied to a narrow, time-bound political agenda designed to help the President win over key states in the South-South zone.
“The appointment of Wike was never about service delivery or administration,” Lamido said. “Tinubu strategically chose him because he needed a strong political figure who could help him penetrate and dominate the South-South region, where the PDP traditionally holds sway.”
Expanding on his point, Lamido emphasized that Tinubu’s ultimate objective was to weaken the PDP’s influence and establish his own political relevance across the region. He pointed to the President’s growing political presence in states like Akwa Ibom and Edo, alongside Wike’s firm control of Rivers State, as signs that the plan was succeeding.
“Look at what is happening now—Akwa Ibom and Edo are slowly tilting towards Tinubu. Rivers State has always been under Wike’s grip. Once Tinubu is confident that he has the entire South-South in his political basket, Wike’s usefulness will come to an end,” Lamido asserted.
He further predicted that the President would waste no time in removing Wike from office once his mission is accomplished. According to him, Wike is merely a temporary tool being used for short-term political gain.
“Wike was appointed to serve a purpose, and the moment that purpose is fulfilled, Tinubu will cast him aside,” Lamido added. “It’s all about political expediency. Tinubu doesn’t do anything without a political motive, and Wike is no exception. He was given that office to deliver results—once he’s no longer useful, he’ll be gone.”
Lamido’s comments are likely to stir further debate about the true intentions behind Wike’s inclusion in Tinubu’s cabinet, especially given the controversial nature of his appointment as a member of the opposition PDP serving in an APC-led government. Many observers have described Wike’s political alignment with Tinubu as a betrayal of the PDP, while others view it as a tactical move to remain politically relevant.
As speculation continues to grow around the durability of Wike’s role in the FCT and the broader implications for national politics, Lamido’s statement has added fresh fuel to the narrative that the Tinubu administration is driven more by political conquest than governance.