MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he harbours no regrets over his open and consistent support for President Bola Tinubu since 2022, insisting that his political stance was guided by principle, conviction and a sense of fairness rather than convenience.
Wike made the declaration on Saturday while speaking at a special event organised to mark his 58th birthday anniversary at his residence in Abuja. The gathering attracted prominent political figures cutting across party lines, reflecting the former Rivers State governor’s enduring influence in Nigeria’s political landscape.
In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister said his decision to support Tinubu before, during and after the 2023 presidential election was deliberate and transparent.
According to him, character and integrity have remained the guiding principles of his political life, stressing that he never attempted to conceal his support for Tinubu, even at the height of internal disagreements within his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike recalled that during the build-up to the 2023 general election, he stood out as the only major political figure from the main opposition party who openly declared support for Tinubu, then the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said his decision was anchored on the belief in equity, fairness and justice, particularly his conviction that political power should rotate to the South after years of Northern dominance.
“I have no regret supporting President Bola Tinubu. I did it openly, I did it with conviction, and I did it because I believed it was the right thing to do,” the Minister was quoted as saying.
Wike further pointed to the outcome of the 2023 elections in Rivers State as evidence of his leadership strength and political dexterity. He noted that under his watch, the APC won the presidential election in the state, while the PDP simultaneously secured victories in the governorship race, National Assembly, State House of Assembly and local government elections.
According to him, the results demonstrated that leadership is not about party labels alone, but about credibility, structure and the trust of the people.
The birthday event, held in the early hours of Saturday, saw political leaders, lawmakers and associates converge on Wike’s Abuja residence to celebrate what many described as a remarkable political journey marked by bold decisions and enduring influence.
Among those in attendance were serving and former National Assembly members from Rivers State, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, chairmen of local government areas, and a host of political allies and longtime associates.
Speaker after speaker took turns to extol the virtues of the FCT Minister, describing him as an achiever, a fearless politician and a leader whose impact cuts across party boundaries and regions.
Rivers State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and former PDP chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, described Wike as the “naked wire” of Rivers politics, a metaphor he said captured the Minister’s political strength and influence.
Akawor, who also served as the Director-General of Wike’s 2015 governorship campaign, said the Minister’s political trajectory had vindicated President Tinubu’s decision to work with him, insisting that the President “picked the right product from the PDP.”
Also speaking, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, who led 27 lawmakers to the event, praised Wike for providing strong leadership and unwavering support to his political family.
Amaewhule pledged the continued loyalty of the Assembly members, declaring that they would stand with Wike wherever he goes politically.
“Wherever our leader goes, we will follow him. Whoever he is supporting, we will also support,” he said.
Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government and Rivers State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Allwell Ihunda, speaking on behalf of local government chairmen, described Wike as a consistent and compassionate leader whose leadership style has remained people-centred.
The event also featured goodwill messages from several political heavyweights, including Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Mohammed Abdulrahman; PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; PDP National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih; APC chieftain, Hon. Victor Giadom; former Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu; Senators Sandy Onor, Magnus Abe, George Sekibo, and Bari Mpigi, among others.
In his response, Wike expressed gratitude to his political family, friends and associates for their unwavering support over the years, acknowledging their role in shaping his leadership journey and political resilience.
He said working with his people continued to give him a sense of fulfilment and pledged to sustain close collaboration with them in the interest of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.
The FCT Minister also addressed criticism directed at him, noting that attacks, abuses and political opposition had never discouraged him.
“Criticism and abuse are some of the things that keep me going. I have never been bothered by those who abuse or criticise me,” he said.
The celebration concluded with special prayers offered for the Minister and his family, marking the end of a gathering that underscored Wike’s enduring relevance and his unapologetic political choices.