Daud Olatunji
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, of disrespecting Nigeria and displaying tendencies capable of dividing the country, following an alleged refusal to stand during the national anthem.
Wike said Obi’s alleged conduct raised questions about his commitment to national unity, insisting that someone seeking to lead the country should demonstrate respect for its national symbols.
The minister made the remarks on Friday during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, organised under the Rainbow Coalition as part of efforts to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and candidates of the All Progressives Congress.
According to Wike, Obi remained seated while the Nigerian national anthem was being rendered but stood up when another anthem, which he said was not Nigeria’s official anthem, was played.
He described the development as an indication that the former Anambra State governor did not have sufficient regard for the country.
whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down.
And then not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up,” Wike said.
He added that such conduct was unacceptable from anyone aspiring to occupy the highest political office in the country.
“A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic National Anthem must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country,” he stated.
Wike also questioned Obi’s political consistency, accusing him of abandoning political parties whenever internal disagreements emerged rather than remaining to resolve the crises.
He further criticised Obi’s eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State, alleging that he failed to conduct local government elections during his administration.
The FCT minister argued that Obi’s alleged failure to conduct council elections contradicted his public advocacy for the rule of law and democratic accountability.
Turning his attention to the opposition political alliance involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Wike challenged their records in public office.
He questioned the condition of Nigeria’s seaports during Amaechi’s tenure as Minister of Transportation and alleged that the administration demolished Government Secondary School, Ogu, without rebuilding it.
Wike also accused the former administration of failing to fulfil its promise to construct a 1,000-bed specialist hospital in the area.
He urged residents to disregard what he described as the opposition’s use of impressive rhetoric on television, insisting that the Tinubu administration had delivered more tangible benefits to Ogu-Bolo.
Among the projects he highlighted were the Ogu-Bolo Civic Centre and federal appointments secured for indigenes of the area, particularly through the appointment of Boma Iyaye.
He subsequently urged the people to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition, Kingsley Chinda for the Rivers State governorship and APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area, Vincent Nemieboka, declared the council’s support for Wike, attributing the community’s political loyalty to projects and appointments attracted to the area through the minister.
