Osun: When Opposition Loses, They Cry Manipulation; When They Win, They Show Off – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused opposition parties of crying foul when they lose elections but celebrating their strength when they emerge victorious.

Wike made the remark on Tuesday in Abuja while reacting to the outcome of the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

The minister said the Bola Tinubu administration deserved commendation for allowing the electoral process to run without interference, despite the opposition’s victory in the poll.

According to Wike, opposition parties often accuse the Federal Government of manipulating elections whenever they lose but claim victory as evidence of their political strength when they win.

> “When they lose, they claim the government manipulated the process; when they win, they show off their might. It does not work that way.”

Wike contrasted the 2027 electoral environment with the 2023 presidential election, which he described as a more difficult contest for President Bola Tinubu.

> “2023 was a tough election for him. Nobody knew what the government at the time was trying to do, and even governors were afraid.”

He maintained that the current administration had allowed democratic processes to operate freely and should therefore be given credit for the conduct of elections.

> “From what I have seen, this government allows processes to run their own way, and they must be given credit for that.”

‘2027 Will Be Easiest Contest for Tinubu’

Wike also predicted that the 2027 presidential election would be the easiest contest for Tinubu, describing the opposition as “crippled and depleted.”

He argued that defeating an incumbent requires a strong and well-organised opposition that has spent years building its political structure.

> “To remove a government, you need a strong, vibrant opposition that has spent over four years planning, not one that is constantly looking for a party to join.”

The minister also criticised what he described as divisions among opposition leaders, including members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He argued that the political circumstances that influenced the 2023 presidential election, including the role played by the G5 governors, would not necessarily be repeated in 2027.

> “Governorship elections rely on local variables, but a national election is a completely different ballgame. If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forget it. It is over.”

Wike Urges Nigerians to Judge Government by Actions

On concerns over economic hardship and public dissatisfaction, Wike urged Nigerians to assess governments based on the concrete steps taken to address problems rather than political sentiments.

> “Leadership is defined by the steps you take to solve problems. When someone identifies a problem and takes concrete action to fix it, that is the effort people should appreciate.”

His comments came days after the Osun governorship election, which was won by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.