2027: ‘I’ll appoint Wike, but put Sellotape on his Mouth’ — Adebayo

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has said he would appoint Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to his government if given the opportunity, but would restrict the minister’s public utterances.

Adebayo made the remark during an interview with Symfoni while discussing governance, the performance of the President Bola Tinubu administration and recent political developments, including the Osun State election.

The SDP candidate praised Wike’s work ethic and credited him with contributing to infrastructure development in the FCT, but criticised what he described as the minister’s confrontational style of public communication and his approach to the use of state power.

“I respect Wike for one thing: that he has a good work ethic. He can work,” Adebayo said.

He argued that previous FCT ministers had achieved considerably less, adding that Nigeria’s infrastructure would improve if commissioners of works across the states demonstrated a similar level of commitment.

Adebayo acknowledged concerns over the cost and value for money of some contracts executed under Wike, but maintained that visible infrastructure projects were being delivered.

Speaking as an FCT resident, he said some of the projects had made movement around the capital easier and improved aspects of daily life.

Despite his praise for Wike’s performance, Adebayo described the minister as a “bad example for Nigerian politics” because of what he considered his approach to force and the exercise of political power.

He expressed hope that Wike would recognise that political power was temporary and that democratic governance should be anchored on civility and restraint.

Adebayo also appealed to the media to limit Wike’s platforms to issues concerning his official responsibilities in the FCT.

He argued that some media outlets contribute to diminishing the dignity of the minister’s office by giving prominence to comments unrelated to his duties.

The SDP candidate advised Wike to concentrate on his responsibilities in the FCT and, if he wished to support President Tinubu politically, to do so privately rather than through what Adebayo described as public theatrics.

He further warned that Wike’s style could influence younger Nigerians to believe that political disagreements should be handled through force or aggressive rhetoric.

“If I was in my own government, I can appoint Wike, but I’ll put a little tape in his mouth,” Adebayo said.

Adebayo nevertheless maintained that Wike was the “number one performing minister” in the Tinubu administration, arguing that the minister’s willingness to show up and work had contributed significantly to the progress recorded in the FCT.

Adebayo Criticises Tinubu Administration

On broader governance issues, the SDP presidential candidate accused the Tinubu administration of what he described as intellectual dishonesty, an exaggerated perception of increased government revenue and poor choices in the appointment of public officials.

He particularly criticised the leadership of the Nigeria Revenue Service, accusing its chairman of misleading Nigerians with claims of significantly improved Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenues without adequately accounting for the decline in purchasing power.

Adebayo also commented on the recent Osun State election, saying President Tinubu demonstrated political skill in managing an internal conflict within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He, however, rejected suggestions that the election represented a model of democratic restraint or a genuine defeat of federal political influence.

He expressed concern over the loss of lives during the election period, the absence of a strong third-party challenge and what he described as the continued support for the APC by hundreds of thousands of voters despite prevailing economic difficulties.

Adebayo also criticised state governors who travelled to Osun during the election, describing their conduct as “thuggish” and unbecoming of holders of public office.

He urged governors to uphold the dignity of their positions and avoid behaviour that could set negative examples for younger Nigerians.

Adebayo concluded that while he would welcome capable officials such as Wike into his government because of their ability to deliver results, competence must be accompanied by restraint, civility and respect for democratic values.

Follow Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!