The Ooni of Ife has stirred controversy after urging Nigerian universities to study how Wike, a PDP chieftain, became a key player in Tinubu’s APC-led government. Why did he say this? Find out the full details.
Ile-Ife, Osun State – In what many observers have described as a bold and controversial statement, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has called on political scientists to academically dissect and understand how the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a card-carrying member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ended up as a central figure in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The monarch “Ooni” made the statement on Thursday during the 2025 Obafemi Awolowo University Distinguished Personality Lecture in Ile-Ife, where Wike himself was the keynote speaker.
“I give a very strong honour to the father of the nation, President Bola Tinubu. You [Wike] belong to a different political party, and yet you are actively part of this government. It’s still a mystery,” the Ooni said to a stunned audience filled with academics, politicians, and traditional leaders.
He went further to challenge Nigeria’s academic institutions: “For me, it is something that universities should be studying, and I mean it. It’s very important.”
Observers say the statement may have exposed the underbelly of Nigeria’s political landscape—where ideology takes a backseat to power, survival, and loyalty shifts.
Wike, who has consistently remained in the opposition PDP—even while serving under a rival APC government—has been unapologetic about his political decisions. He recently pledged to lead Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in Rivers State, a move that has divided opinions in the South-South and beyond.
“Hate him or like him, what will be, will be. He [Wike] is a politician to be studied,” the Ooni continued. “I don’t know how he has remained actively relevant for over 20 years.”
Critics have described Wike as a “political enigma,” “a survivalist,” and even “a mercenary of power.” But love him or loathe him, the FCT Minister’s strategic positioning has made him one of the most talked-about politicians in recent times.
Political analysts argue that Wike’s current alignment with Tinubu could either be a masterstroke that redefines cross-party politics in Nigeria or a time bomb waiting to explode within the PDP and APC alike.
As Nigerians prepare for the 2027 general elections, many wonder: Is Wike the future of pragmatic politics—or just another opportunist with elite protection?
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