Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has sharply criticised Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, accusing him of fleeing from political struggles and preferring “Mama Put” style politics where success is handed over without effort.
Wike made the remarks during an interview with Arise TV on Monday while reacting to Obi’s recent political movements.
“Peter Obi likes ‘food is ready,’ ‘Mama put.’ I don’t want struggling,” Wike said.
“Look, this country has challenges. You must have the capacity to face those challenges. It’s not when you have one problem, you say, ‘Oh, this problem is too much, let me move to so-and-so place.’ That is not leadership. Leadership is not about having something dashed to you.”
The minister contrasted Obi’s path with his own decision to stay and fight within the Peoples Democratic Party despite internal crises.
“You saw in PDP. I said, I will not leave this party… Rather, you will leave. Have I left? Have they not left?” he asked.
Wike further listed Obi’s party-hopping history: “Obi was in APGA. He couldn’t build the APGA. He left APGA. He came to the PDP. He ran away from the PDP. He went to Labour. Labour had a crisis. He ran away again from Labour.”
He described true leadership as requiring courage to confront and solve difficult problems, even when short-term suffering is involved.
The comments come as Obi, who recently defected to the NDC after leaving the Labour Party, prepares for the 2027 presidential election.
