Wike: The Unstoppable Power Player

In the corridors of power, few figures command attention like Barr. Nyesom Wike. His approach can be as straightforward as a sledgehammer – unapologetic, unyielding, and often leaving little room for dissent. The man from Rivers State does n’t mince words; he’s known to speak his mind, sometimes with a blunt candour that can be jarringly flabbergasting. His actions can come across as pompous and haughty, his demeanour sometimes radiating an air of “I know best” or that of a poponjay. Decisions often times are n’t always carefully weighed – as there’s always a hint of rashness in how he addresses people, in how he tackles issues head-on, and if anyone would agree with this writer, in how he even delivers his visible milestones as overt since his days as the Minister of State of Education under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

But strip away the brusque exterior, the unfiltered words, the in-your-face politics, and you w’ll find a politician who’s undeniably impactful, a political juggernaut with marked difference, and a dependable liege man or epigone of anyone he sticks with. Evidence abound. He stuck with GEJ and Mama Peace all through. He stuck with the PDP through thick and thin. He single-handedly financed the comatose former ruling party when today’s bigwigs (in the coalition) abandoned a party that gave them everything in life. When it comes to bolstering *President Bola Ahmed Tinubu*’s agenda, Wike is a force multiplier. It does n’t matter whether anybody believes this or not. He is a force majeure. First, his loyalty is n’t in question; his ability to get things done, often through sheer force of will, is ne’er debatable too. Love him or loathe him, Nyesom Wike is an asset – a big one – to the Tinubu administration. His capacity to galvanize support, push boundaries, and deliver results makes him a key player in shaping the narrative of this government.

The narrative around Wike might be divisive, but his contributions are n’t easily dismissed with wave of hand. In the complex game of Nigerian politics, having someone of Wike’s calibre – for all his rough edges – is a strategic advantage. He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for President Tinubu, he’s a potent tool in driving forward his vision for Nigeria. The approach may not always be polished, but the results? Those often speak for themselves. It is somewhat laughable today that some persons are trying, albeit fecklessly, to downplay his huge contributions during the 2023 presidential poll. Bringing the numbers of votes he garnered for Mr. President is, at best, a puerile and jejune way of thinking in the considered opinion of this writer.

With then serious and lethally damaging plot from within the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure the APC lose to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, this I know because aside the shenanigans and legerdemain from the ‘Villa Cabals’, including the Emefiele signature, many of the Presidential Campaign Council also worked against their own party. I knew this because I was a member of the PCC, and I knew what I heard and saw. President Tinubu was not projected to win even by then decision-makers in his own party. Wike helped greatly by decimating the main opposition – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). For somebody to come out today and play down such huge role is either such individual (s) is/are just cynics who hate Wike’s guts or they are just political abecedarians. Thankfully, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Strategist-in-Chief himself recognises this monumental support from *HM Wike* and that is why he has hitherto deafened his ears to the hush-hush from some quarters that he should remove him based on the prolonged political hurly-burly and foofaraw in Rivers State. Mr. President, ọmọ ọgbón! He knows there are no emotions in politics. It is either you eat or you are eaten. Check ‘saner clime’ countries too. It rains everywhere except for the quantum.

The FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike on Saturday, February 21, 2026 proved again that he is definitely a big deal in Nigerian politics. His influence stretches beyond Rivers State, and his ability to shape national conversations is undeniable. Winning 5 out of 6 local governments in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election is a major feat, showcasing his strategic strength and appeal. Some say if he’d been Atiku’s running mate in 2023, things might’ve gone differently. Your Truly completely aligns with this assertion, especially considering the internal warfare against a Tinubu presidency within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Barr. Nyesom Wike is undeniably a tour de force in Nigerian politics, a masterclass in strategic maneuvering and unyielding influence. His gravitational pull extends far beyond the borders of Rivers State, with a presence that’s felt across the nation’s corridors of power. Nigerians would recall his impact during former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term bid. And now, that dominance in the FCT local governments? Winning 5 out of 6 Area Councils is a mic-drop moment, solidifying his reputation as a coalition-builder and grassroots mobilizer extraordinaire.

And let’s not gloss over the what-ifs: if he’d joined forces with Atiku Abubakar in 2023, the script might’ve been rewritten, the outcome potentially altered. Wike ‘s got that X-factor, a blend of charisma, cunning, and unapologetic assertiveness that makes him a force to be reckoned with as a power player in the field of ‘Naija’ politics and that ‘s why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to treat him like a sine qua non that he is.

Omogbolahan L.A. BABAWALE is the Convener/Lead Resource Person of The Think-Tinubu Initiative (3TI). He writes from Lagos.
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