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Indications have emerged that President Bola Tinubu is facing mounting pressure from some of his closest political allies and long-time associates to review his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Multiple presidency sources told Signal.ng that the pressure intensified following reports that Wike’s regular monthly media briefings was generating public disaffections against the president.
Wike was notably absent from Thursday’s National Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa, which was attended by former Nigerian leaders, governors, and ex-Chief Justices of the Federation.
He was represented at the meeting by Hajiya Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State for the FCT.
A senior aide familiar with the development told Signal.ng that “the president’s men are worried that Wike’s growing notoriety for inflammatory remarks and confrontational style is beginning to damage the image of the government.”
“Wike is doing well in infrastructure development, and the president appreciates that.
“But his frequent outbursts and threats during media briefings have become a liability. They are increasingly being viewed as a source of negative publicity for both him and the president,” the official added.
According to multiple insiders, members of the Lagos APC elders’ council, also known as the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), have urged Tinubu to realign politically with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, ahead of 2027.
The elders reportedly told the president that Wike had become “a political baggage” and that continuing to associate with him could harm the administration’s reputation and electoral standing in the south-south region.
One of the elders — an 88-year-old long-time political ally of Tinubu, whom the president often consults for advice — was said to have personally told him during a private meeting in Lagos that “it is time to do away with Wike.”
The elder, according to sources, advised Tinubu to “work with Fubara instead, because the Rivers governor has shown calmness, patience, and restraint even in the face of provocation.”
“The elders reminded the president that Fubara remained loyal during his suspension and didn’t rock the boat,” one presidency insider said.
“They told him that maltreating Fubara, an Ijaw man, could send a wrong message to the riverine people of Rivers and the Niger Delta as a whole,” he added.
Presidency officials disclosed that while Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, is opposed to dropping Wike, Tinubu is seriously considering the elders’ advice.
One of the officials said: “The president is beginning to see the wisdom in the argument. He has already asked one of the senior officials in the presidency, who handles ministerial evaluations, to prepare a report on the FCT minister.”
The source added that there are plans to “ease Wike out” during the president’s third anniversary in office next year, using the growing number of petitions against the minister as justification.
“There are already several petitions in the president’s office, some alleging financial impropriety and abuse of power.
“The president has ordered a discreet investigation to verify these claims and build a case that could make Wike’s resignation appear inevitable,” the source said.
