CITIZENS COMPASS— Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, yesterday, tackled the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Nwifuru’s action followed Wike’s description of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors as “politically lazy.”
The governor spoke during a political event in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, amid the growing disagreement over Wike’s proposed “Rainbow Coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike had, during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, criticised the APC governors for rejecting his political arrangement. He described them as “smart” but “politically lazy” and maintained that his support for President Bola Tinubu did not require him to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party.
The APC governors had earlier declared that they would not participate in, support or endorse any political alliance capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid or affecting APC candidates at any level.
Reacting to the development, Nwifuru said the controversy was also linked to claims that President Tinubu had handed Ebonyi State to the PDP and Wike ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor dismissed such claims and said those behind them should not mistake the APC governors’ position for fear.
He said: “This sentiment came out on the grounds that some people are going around saying that they discussed with Mr President that he has given Ebonyi to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“They also said that the President has given Ebonyi to their leader, Nyesom Wike. We sympathise with them.
“I want to sound this way as your governor that we are not afraid. We have all it takes to destroy whoever is trying us.”
Wike’s comments and the response from Nwifuru come as political alignments continue to take shape ahead of the 2027 elections.
While Wike has insisted that his political activities are known to President Tinubu, the APC Governors’ Forum has maintained that it will not support any arrangement that could weaken the party or affect its candidates.
—GWG
