Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has recounted how the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, restored his political optimism after his removal from office. Oshiomhole spoke on Monday in Benin City during the commissioning and handover of 54 pieces of construction equipment to chairmen of the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
The senator representing Edo North reflected on his tenure as APC national chairman, noting that he led the party to victory in the presidential election against the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Despite that achievement, he said his removal left him isolated. “I was abandoned when I was removed,” he stated.
Oshiomhole described the period as one of deep political loneliness, claiming that associates distanced themselves from him for fear of political repercussions. “During the period, people were even afraid of visiting me because they could be termed anti-party,” he said.
According to him, relief came unexpectedly through a phone call from Wike, who was then governor of Rivers State. Wike invited him to Port Harcourt to commission projects, a gesture Oshiomhole said rekindled his hope and strengthened his resolve to remain active in politics. He added that Edo State would show gratitude to the FCT minister for the support.
In his remarks, Wike cautioned Nigerians against what he described as “emergency democrats” seeking to mislead the public. Though he did not mention names, his comments were widely interpreted as a reference to the Africa Democratic Congress.
“Some people while in office couldn’t come out of their office, but are now buying corn, which they have never done since they were born,” Wike said. “Now you doing what you haven’t done before by buying corn from the roadside sellers just because you want to deceived the people. And now they are claiming to be democrat and man of the people, only because you want to deceive the people.”
He argued that while political opponents were engaging in populist gestures, President Bola Tinubu was focused on governance, commissioning projects across the FCT and beyond. Wike added that as a PDP member, he accepted the outcome of the FCT council elections, acknowledging that the president’s performance contributed to the APC’s victory. “That is why we (PDP), takes second in the election and it is better to take second than to fail,” he said, adding that the results clarified the distinction between the ruling party and the opposition.
