The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that no one can control or manipulate him, insisting that he cannot be “pocketed” by any politician.
Wike made the remark while reacting to claims that he is displeased with the reported presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday night, the former Rivers State governor dismissed the insinuations as baseless and unfounded.
“You can’t put people like us in your pocket; it’s not possible. Ask Fayose; he knows,” Wike stated. “You must know your people — those who will accept certain things and those who will not.”
The FCT Minister stressed that contrary to claims in some quarters, he has no issues with Makinde’s rumored presidential aspiration, but questioned the logic of pursuing such ambition while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains embroiled in internal crisis.
“What do you mean that I’m not happy for Makinde to be a presidential candidate? Let’s not trivialize things,” Wike said. “It’s not about being a Ph.D. holder, an engineer, or a lawyer — that’s not it. Being a presidential candidate is not just waking up in the morning and saying you want to be a presidential candidate. No.”
He added, “Some people just want to be a presidential candidate. Assuming you really want to be a presidential candidate, will you allow your party to have this kind of crisis?”
Wike and Makinde have both been key figures within the PDP’s G5 bloc, a group of governors and party leaders who clashed with the party’s national leadership during the 2023 general elections.
The minister’s comments come amid renewed speculations over fresh divisions within the party and reports suggesting that Makinde may be positioning himself for a future presidential run.
