The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his alleged refusal to stand for the national anthem at a party gathering in Lagos.
Wike said the action raised questions about Obi’s commitment to Nigeria, arguing that a presidential aspirant who disregarded national symbols could not be trusted with the country’s leadership.
The minister spoke on Friday at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, organised by the Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and All Progressives Congress candidates in the 2027 elections.
His comments followed a viral video from an NDC meeting in Lagos on Thursday, where Obi, the party’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, and some supporters reportedly declined to recite the current national anthem and instead sang the former anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots”.
Addressing traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and party faithful, Wike said Obi had shown disrespect for the country by remaining seated during the current anthem but standing when the former anthem was sung.
“A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up.
“In a way, he does not belong to this country. In a way, he has said he does not belong to this country; that if you give him president, he would do a different thing that will divide Nigeria.
