Why Uzodinma, AbdulRazaq oppose Rainbow Coalition — Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that his Rainbow Coalition is designed to destabilise the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the opposition to the initiative by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and his Kwara counterpart, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is driven by undisclosed political interests.
Wike, who is a prominent leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he would reveal the alleged underlying motives behind the criticism during a television interview scheduled for Monday evening.
The minister spoke on Monday while responding to questions from journalists during an inspection of ongoing road projects in the FCT.
Reacting to speculation that the Rainbow Coalition was aimed at positioning him for the 2031 presidential election, Wike dismissed the suggestion as premature but acknowledged his experience and relevance in national politics.
He said, “People take the position of God. First of all, you have to pray that you are alive. You must ask God, ‘Keep me alive till tomorrow. God, keep me alive till the next day.’ When God keeps you alive, then you know what to do. How can you sit now and start planning about 2030, 2031?
“So, God is the one who says what will be. If one is alive, then you begin to see what we will do. In any case, what is wrong assuming that I am positioning myself? But that is not correct. But you will hear the full details today about all this cry about the Rainbow Coalition.”
Wike further argued that the question of succession within the APC could be contributing to the concerns surrounding the coalition, noting that President Bola Tinubu would not be eligible to contest for another term in 2031 if he completes his current tenure and secures re-election.
He said, “I have always said, mind you, too, that by 2031, as a sitting president, he will not be running. So, the President must also have interest in who will succeed him. And will I be at loggerheads with what the President is talking about? But people don’t understand. They are just afraid of their shadows, not me.”
The FCT minister also referenced his participation in the 2022 PDP presidential primary, where he finished second, to underscore his understanding of Nigeria’s political dynamics.
“First of all, you should know that I ran presidential primary in 2022, and I came second. If not for what happened, I would have emerged. So, I know this country very well. I am a politician of this country. I know the conspiracy of people,” he said.
Asked to respond directly to criticism from members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and allegations that he was working to undermine the APC, Wike reiterated that his immediate priority was President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He said he would address the issue during an appearance on TVC between 5pm and 7pm on Monday.
“My concern is how the President will be re-elected for a second term. That is my concern. And I have made that known from the outset that I was going to support Mr President with all my might and strength,” he said.
Expressing disappointment over suggestions that the Rainbow Coalition could destabilise the ruling party, Wike said such claims were unfounded, insisting that the real concerns surrounding the initiative would become clear during his television appearance.
“You will hear the full details today of why all this cry about Rainbow Coalition. I will tell you, and Nigerians will be shocked when they hear the full details about the so-called Rainbow Coalition. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag now, so just hold your breath,” he said.
Wike also denied that the coalition had directed anyone to withdraw support from political candidates, explaining that its position was to encourage like-minded individuals outside the APC to support President Tinubu.
“It is not correct. I mean, we have not gone to anybody to say, ‘Don’t support anybody.’ We said all our party members, all those like-minds who are not APC members, to please ensure that they support Mr President,” he stated.
Drawing a comparison with the G5 governors’ bloc that emerged ahead of the 2023 general elections, Wike questioned why similar concerns were not raised at the time.
He said the coalition could potentially strengthen the President’s political position rather than undermine the APC.
“What is the real cry about the Rainbow Coalition? The undertones. Nigerians don’t understand that there are undertones to it, and we will let the cat out of the bag so Nigerians will be well-informed about the so-called cry about Rainbow Coalition,” he added.
Meanwhile, Wike expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing road projects in the FCT, including the ISEX 2 and Southern Parkway roads, as well as the Nile University–Ring Road 3 project.
He said contractors had committed to completing the projects by January 10, 2027.
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