Vanguard Nigeria News: Wike as a counterpoint to hegemonic politicians
Published on: 02/13/2026
By SUNNY IKHIOYA
The Politics is a very interesting game for those who know how it is played. Yes, it’s a game that people hate to lose because it has implications on all aspect of their lives. But how will politics be without the likes of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the federal Capital Territory, in today’s contemporary Nigerian politics. Sometimes, we have to give them credit for the verve they bring into the whole process. Too much dulling could have a negative impact, and most times, they tend to distract us from the seriousness of life affairs.
But all is well; leaders must be leaders and they must lead the people through the prosperous path. If they fail to do so, there are many ways the system provides for changes to take place. Some can come through natural causes, like it happened to the late General Sani Abacha. That is why people say “que sera sera”, what will be will be.
There is always a tilting point for the centre to crumble, that is why leadership must possess wisdom. It should not be all noise. Beyond the razzmatazz, there must be level head and focus, with a mind for service and uplifting of the people. So, the business of politics attracts everyone: the good, bad, and ugly. How you see them depends on the positioning of your viewing point.
Wike is in the news anytime he speaks because people want to hear his views, whether they love or hate him. The press will always attend to him because he is news, and in this business, the news sells. Wike’s style is different, never seen before. His courage defies logic. He sees danger and deliberately puts himself on the line. His politics is risky, winner takes all, no ground given. He is bold and uncompromising in his communications, with a baiting trait which his opponents find provocative, earning him so many enemies in the process.
Someone in Wike’s position, would have operated quietly and gotten the same result in the Sim Fubara case, in the manner Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did to Akinwumi Ambode in Lagos. But not Wike. He must let the whole world know that he did it and heaven will not fall. Such boastfulness has not helped in the way people relate to him. Howbeit, he has managed to become cosmopolitan with the way he links up friends all over the country and beyond. He is arguably the most influential politician in the South, aside from the president, even extending his tentacles up North. That is not the type of politician you take for granted. He is a voice that has taken up the established order and broken their hegemony, beginning with the PDP.
In the past, people have grown up with the entitlement syndrome that power must belong to them perpetually, and whatever position they hold people must go along with it. They held the jugular of the party. Imagine a politician of note in the South saying that only a Northern candidate can win a presidential election for his party. Those were the systems and beliefs that Wike stood against. Imagine a situation where the whole Southern leaders had taken a position on where their presidential candidate should come from. A candidate from the North chosed to contest the election and signatories of the decision queued behind him in betrayal of their original positions; that is where Wike differs from most of them; he stood by his decision to bring the presidency to the South. He delivers on his words. Like Donald Trump, he does not say what he will not do and is not afraid of consequences. That makes him a man of integrity, one who keeps to his words. And you cannot say this of many of today’s politicians. Because of his style of politics many want to see him fail, they do not see the rational behind his actions; once there is a fight and Wike is involved, they automatically support the other party, which happened in the case of the naval officer Yerima. He is loyal to his friends and ready to take the flak for them – examples are the Anyanwu secretaryship matter, Edo State factional PDP support led by Collins Obih; support for Benue State and others.
He could also command a team of loyal followers and be able to keep 27 lawmakers intact after two years of rumbling with Governor Fubara is not a mean feat. It is a testament to his political dexterity rather than Fubara’s naivety. The Ooni of Ife once expressed his amazement at Wike’s brand of politics and would want it to be subjected to further research in our academia. That is the kind of person Wike is, the man people love to hate, which is also his dilemma. It will please many people for Wike to be dropped, that will mean one less of the President’s strong men.
Will Tinubu fall for the bait? It will not be a wise one. Wike alone has taken the opposition more than the APC architecture, especially with the ADC coalition. If he is with the coalition, they will be stronger. His contribution to destabilising the opposition cannot be overlooked. And people should not say it is because of Tinubu. Under Buhari, he resisted the ruling party to a stand still. Wike is a strong political force, not only in Rivers State but right across the country. We should look out for more of Wike after the Tinubu presidency. For now, he will remain in the shadow of the president building up capacity.
Tinubu still needs Wike and vice versa. They are both politicians of same methods. The only difference is that one is loud and unabashedly displays it, while the other operates in an unobtrusive manner with the same effectiveness. That is the understanding that is made clear with their partnership.
Perhaps, going forward, Wike should be counselled to be less visible but with the same effectiveness. We also must consider the fact that he is a politician. They have to be seen, heard and praise-worshipped. Wike is also looking at the post-Tinubu era and will want to be entrenched strategically to call the short in the next dispensation. If Tinubu allows him until 2031, Wike will definitely have a say on who becomes the next president with his influence.
After the president, he is arguably the next most powerful politician from the South who can confront anybody. Not many people will be happy with this development. Whatever it is, let us see how far Wike can go in his political journey.
But all is well; leaders must be leaders and they must lead the people through the prosperous path. If they fail to do so, there are many ways the system provides for changes to take place. Some can come through natural causes, like it happened to the late General Sani Abacha. That is why people say “que sera sera”, what will be will be.
There is always a tilting point for the centre to crumble, that is why leadership must possess wisdom. It should not be all noise. Beyond the razzmatazz, there must be level head and focus, with a mind for service and uplifting of the people. So, the business of politics attracts everyone: the good, bad, and ugly. How you see them depends on the positioning of your viewing point.
Wike is in the news anytime he speaks because people want to hear his views, whether they love or hate him. The press will always attend to him because he is news, and in this business, the news sells. Wike’s style is different, never seen before. His courage defies logic. He sees danger and deliberately puts himself on the line. His politics is risky, winner takes all, no ground given. He is bold and uncompromising in his communications, with a baiting trait which his opponents find provocative, earning him so many enemies in the process.
Someone in Wike’s position, would have operated quietly and gotten the same result in the Sim Fubara case, in the manner Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did to Akinwumi Ambode in Lagos. But not Wike. He must let the whole world know that he did it and heaven will not fall. Such boastfulness has not helped in the way people relate to him. Howbeit, he has managed to become cosmopolitan with the way he links up friends all over the country and beyond. He is arguably the most influential politician in the South, aside from the president, even extending his tentacles up North. That is not the type of politician you take for granted. He is a voice that has taken up the established order and broken their hegemony, beginning with the PDP.
In the past, people have grown up with the entitlement syndrome that power must belong to them perpetually, and whatever position they hold people must go along with it. They held the jugular of the party. Imagine a politician of note in the South saying that only a Northern candidate can win a presidential election for his party. Those were the systems and beliefs that Wike stood against. Imagine a situation where the whole Southern leaders had taken a position on where their presidential candidate should come from. A candidate from the North chosed to contest the election and signatories of the decision queued behind him in betrayal of their original positions; that is where Wike differs from most of them; he stood by his decision to bring the presidency to the South. He delivers on his words. Like Donald Trump, he does not say what he will not do and is not afraid of consequences. That makes him a man of integrity, one who keeps to his words. And you cannot say this of many of today’s politicians. Because of his style of politics many want to see him fail, they do not see the rational behind his actions; once there is a fight and Wike is involved, they automatically support the other party, which happened in the case of the naval officer Yerima. He is loyal to his friends and ready to take the flak for them – examples are the Anyanwu secretaryship matter, Edo State factional PDP support led by Collins Obih; support for Benue State and others.
He could also command a team of loyal followers and be able to keep 27 lawmakers intact after two years of rumbling with Governor Fubara is not a mean feat. It is a testament to his political dexterity rather than Fubara’s naivety. The Ooni of Ife once expressed his amazement at Wike’s brand of politics and would want it to be subjected to further research in our academia. That is the kind of person Wike is, the man people love to hate, which is also his dilemma. It will please many people for Wike to be dropped, that will mean one less of the President’s strong men.
Will Tinubu fall for the bait? It will not be a wise one. Wike alone has taken the opposition more than the APC architecture, especially with the ADC coalition. If he is with the coalition, they will be stronger. His contribution to destabilising the opposition cannot be overlooked. And people should not say it is because of Tinubu. Under Buhari, he resisted the ruling party to a stand still. Wike is a strong political force, not only in Rivers State but right across the country. We should look out for more of Wike after the Tinubu presidency. For now, he will remain in the shadow of the president building up capacity.
Tinubu still needs Wike and vice versa. They are both politicians of same methods. The only difference is that one is loud and unabashedly displays it, while the other operates in an unobtrusive manner with the same effectiveness. That is the understanding that is made clear with their partnership.
Perhaps, going forward, Wike should be counselled to be less visible but with the same effectiveness. We also must consider the fact that he is a politician. They have to be seen, heard and praise-worshipped. Wike is also looking at the post-Tinubu era and will want to be entrenched strategically to call the short in the next dispensation. If Tinubu allows him until 2031, Wike will definitely have a say on who becomes the next president with his influence.
After the president, he is arguably the next most powerful politician from the South who can confront anybody. Not many people will be happy with this development. Whatever it is, let us see how far Wike can go in his political journey.