A fresh war of words has broken out between the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, over its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The party has told Wike to stop acting like a saint on national unity, saying he has no standing to preach to Obi about tolerance or good leadership.
The quarrel started after Wike attacked Obi over what happened at a town hall meeting in Lagos.
Wike claimed Obi stayed seated while the present national anthem was being sung, but stood up immediately when the old anthem was introduced.
The minister called it an act of lawlessness and a plot to split the country.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the National Campaign Council, Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the NDC said Wike should check his own past before judging Obi.
Ikokwu said it is shocking that a man whose name has been linked to crisis, division and long-running instability in and outside Rivers State now wants to act as the judge of Nigerian politics.
She recalled Wike’s part in the crisis that trailed the 2023 presidential poll in Rivers, as well as his movement between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
According to her, those actions have left many Nigerians confused about where he truly stands. She said Wike’s latest sermon on unity should not be taken seriously.
“Minister Wike needs to look in the mirror. He has no moral right to lecture Peter Obi or anybody on unity,” Ikokwu said.