Wike warns Tinubu’s emergency supporters, says agreement is agreement
The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has advised those he described as emergency supporters of President Bola Tinubu to honour existing political agreements, stressing that sudden loyalty expressed through singing of ‘on your mandate, we shall stand’ would not change established political realities.
He said that support must be proven through commitment and consistency, not convenience.
Wike gave the counsel on Sunday during his Christmas visits to Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of Rivers State, where he met with community leaders and residents.
The visit formed part of his annual outreach to reconnect with the grassroots and reflect on national issues during the festive season.
Addressing the people of Ikwerre, Wike recalled that the area took a political risk by supporting President Tinubu at a time when many were uncertain about the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
He maintained that the support from Ikwerre people played a critical role in the President’s victory in Rivers State and should not be downplayed or rewritten by recent political narratives.
He stressed that political loyalty is tested during difficult moments, not when outcomes are already clear. According to him, genuine commitment requires standing firm when decisions carry risk, not when benefits have become visible. He added that those now projecting support must understand that political credibility is built over time through consistency and sacrifice.
“For us here, agreement is agreement. You can be singing on your mandate we shall stand, in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is good because we have been supporting the President since 2023, your new sloganeering won’t help you.
“In 2023 when it was difficult, when people never knew that Mr President will emerge as President, all of us from Ikwerre stock knew politics is about risk, we know that, if you look at the votes that made him to win in Rivers, the votes were particularly from Ikwerre.
“When it mattered most, we stood on his mandate, not this people now coming to shout on your mandate, when it was important they couldn’t shout on your mandate.
“You take stands when things are tough, not when food is ready. We took this position when things were tough, and we are still standing by it.”
Wike also reiterated the importance of respecting the zoning principle, insisting that the South must complete its eight years in power.
He said the region’s continued support for President Tinubu should not be influenced by party lines but by a shared understanding of fairness, equity, and political balance in the country.
“The South must complete their eight years, and completing the eight years it doesn’t matter which party we belong to give Mr. President the support to succeed.
“In 2031, after the South must have completed its eight years through President Tinubu, we will know what next.” Wike said.
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