Social Democratic Party presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has made a striking promise about Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, saying he would appoint the minister to his government but restrict his public utterances.
Adebayo made stated this during an interview with Symfoni while discussing the performance of the Bola Tinubu administration, governance and recent political developments, including the Osun State election.
While sharply criticising Wike’s political style and public statements, Adebayo acknowledged the minister’s work ethic and credited him with making a visible impact on infrastructure development in the Federal Capital Territory.
“I respect Wike for one thing: that he has a good work ethic. He can work,” Adebayo said.
The SDP candidate said previous FCT ministers had achieved significantly less, arguing that Nigeria would have better infrastructure if commissioners of works across the states could match Wike’s level of output.
Although Adebayo raised concerns about the possible inflation of contracts under Wike and questioned whether Nigerians were getting adequate value for money, he maintained that the minister had nonetheless delivered visible projects.
As an FCT resident, he said the infrastructure projects had made movement and daily life easier.
However, Adebayo said Wike’s approach to politics and his perceived reliance on force and state power made him a “bad example for Nigerian politics”.
He expressed hope that Wike would eventually understand that political power is temporary and that a civilised society is preferable to the use of force.
The SDP candidate also took aim at the media, urging journalists to stop giving Wike platforms to comment on matters outside his responsibilities in the FCT.
According to him, the media contributes to diminishing the dignity of the minister’s office by repeatedly airing his controversial remarks.
Adebayo urged Wike to concentrate on his official responsibilities in Abuja and, where necessary, support President Bola Tinubu privately rather than through what he described as public theatrics.
He warned that Wike’s style could influence younger Nigerians to believe that democratic politics should be conducted through intimidation and thuggish rhetoric.
“If I was in my own government, I can appoint Wike, but I’ll put a little tape in his mouth,” Adebayo stated.
Despite his criticism, Adebayo described Wike as the number one performing minister in the Tinubu administration, arguing that the progress recorded in the FCT was largely because the minister had been present and actively involved in executing projects.
Turning to the wider performance of the Federal Government, Adebayo accused the Tinubu administration of intellectual dishonesty, creating illusions around increased government revenue and making poor personnel choices.
He particularly criticised the chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, accusing him of misleading Nigerians with claims about increased FAAC allocations while failing to adequately account for the decline in citizens’ purchasing power.
On the Osun State election, Adebayo credited Tinubu with political skill in managing an internal APC dispute but rejected the suggestion that the election represented democratic restraint or a genuine defeat of federal influence.
He expressed concern over the loss of lives, the absence of a strong third-party challenge and the willingness of large numbers of voters to continue supporting the APC despite the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
Adebayo also condemned the conduct of some state governors who “invaded” Osun during the election, describing their behaviour as thuggish and unbecoming of public officials.
He appealed to governors to conduct themselves with greater dignity, warning that their actions could serve as examples for young Nigerians to emulate.
The SDP presidential candidate maintained that while capable officials such as Wike could be useful in government because of their ability to deliver results, competence must be accompanied by restraint and respect for democratic values.
