Wike Has Shot Tinubu In The Foot, Says NIIA Research Director

ABUJA — The Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Otubanjo, has said that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s political behaviour has effectively shot President Tinubu in the foot. The professor made the assertion in an analysis published by Vanguard on Sunday, describing Wike’s role in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape as deeply counterproductive for the presidency.

Otubanjo argued that Wike’s strategy of weakening the PDP while simultaneously stoking chaos within the opposition ecosystem has not served Tinubu’s long-term interests. He said a strong, manageable opposition would actually benefit the APC by providing a legitimate competitive framework. Instead, Wike’s approach has created a fragmented, unpredictable landscape that is difficult for anyone to control.

“Wike came into the Tinubu camp as an asset. He is increasingly becoming a liability. His political scheming has created more enemies than friends for the administration and has made it harder for Tinubu to project the image of a president above political manipulation,” Otubanjo wrote.

Wike’s Political Record

Wike served as Rivers State Governor from 2015 to 2023 and was a prominent PDP figure. His falling out with the PDP leadership after the 2023 presidential primary and his subsequent support for Tinubu was seen as a pivotal political moment. He was rewarded with the FCT ministerial appointment.

Since then, Wike has used his influence to reshape Abuja, pursue political projects in Rivers State, and maintain complex relationships with multiple political camps. His political energy has rarely been easy to channel in a single consistent direction.

The NIIA analysis has drawn significant attention because it comes from an academic institution associated with the foreign affairs establishment rather than from a partisan source. Several APC insiders privately agreed with the assessment, saying Wike’s unpredictability has created more complications than his initial political value justified.