The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has responded to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, after he accused its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of demonstrating a lack of faith in Nigeria and disrespecting the country’s national symbols.
Wike had criticised Obi’s refusal to stand during the rendition of the current national anthem while standing when an alternative anthem was sung at the NDC rally in Lagos, saying the action raised questions about the former Anambra State governor’s commitment to national unity and his suitability for the presidency.
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 Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and APC candidates.
Wike berated Obi, arguing that any presidential candidate who disregards the country’s national symbols cannot be trusted with the responsibility of leading the nation.
He said, “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 the president, he would do a different thing that will divide Nigeria.
“A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic national anthem must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country.”
However, in a terse response on Saturday, the NDC accused Wike of lacking the moral authority to appoint himself as a referee of Nigerian politics.
The party’s position was contained in a statement signed by Dr Chiogo Ikokwu, Spokesperson of the NDC National Campaign Council, who described the minister’s criticism of Obi as ironic, given what he called Wike’s political conduct in Rivers State and beyond.
“I read from the media that Minister Nyesom Wike has accused the Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, of causing division and lawlessness due to the rendition of the old national anthem by NDC supporters in Lagos yesterday during Mr Obi’s town hall meeting.
“Can you imagine? If this report is true, Minister Wike needs to look in the mirror. It is extraordinary that someone whose political conduct in and outside Rivers State has been widely associated with deep divisions, political upheaval and prolonged instability can suddenly appoint himself the moral referee of Nigerian politics.
“His role in the political controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election in Rivers, his open political manoeuvring across party lines – PDP/APC – and the confusion his actions have generated make his latest sermon particularly difficult to take seriously.
“You cannot be an arsonist in your own backyard and turn up elsewhere preaching fire safety. Minister Wike has no moral authority to lecture others on political tolerance, unity or responsible leadership. He should put his own house in order before attempting to police the conduct of others,” the statement read in part.
The NDC also explained that the rendition of the old national anthem at the Lagos event was entirely spontaneous and initiated by the people themselves, rather than being organised or planned by Obi or the party.
“It was not scripted, orchestrated or planned by anyone. It was simply in the moment, as expressed by citizens, nothing more, nothing less.
“And if you watched another part of the video, they went on to sing the current national anthem. Minister Wike should stop distracting Nigerians from the gargantuan failures of the government he’s trying very hard to sell.
“We need to focus on the issues that matter to Nigerians in this election – the economy, and the crippling hardship inflicted by the APC government,” the NDC added.
The party maintained that attention should be focused on the economy and the hardship facing Nigerians rather than the controversy surrounding the national anthem at the Lagos town hall meeting.
