A popular Nigerian activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has stated that the fact that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, appears physically older than former President Muhammadu Buhari and the current President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, does not make him an elder statesman.
Deji Adeyanju made this statement in Abuja on November 15, 2024, during a press briefing stressing that Wike calling himself an elder Stateman in the country simply because he is aging beyond his actual age is “misleading” and “self deception”.
The activist went further to describe Nyesom Wike as a “land grabber” in Abuja, alleging that Wike is using his office as the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to advance personal interests.
According to him, Wike’s flamboyant lifestyle is a result of what he termed as years of “stealing public funds” during his tenure as a local government chairman, Chief of Staff, and Governor of Rivers State, and now as FCT Minister.
Adeyanju also labeled Wike as a serial betrayer, claiming that the only difference between Wike and the controversial artist, Portable, is that Portable does not betray those who help him.
He accused Wike of betraying political allies such as Rotimi Amaechi, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and, most recently, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
He further vowed to hold Wike accountable for allegedly using his position to confiscate lands from vulnerable Nigerians in Abuja.
Adeyanju called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to relieve Wike of his appointment to prevent further hardship for citizens affected by his alleged actions.
On the other hand, Nyesom Wike has dismissed Adeyanju’s claims as baseless.
He alleged that Adeyanju’s criticism stemmed from personal grievances, stating that Adeyanju had once approached him for the position of Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a request Wike claimed to have declined.
Wike accused Adeyanju of engaging in media propaganda due to a lack of legitimate employment.
Meanwhile, the feud between the two reportedly began when Adeyanju publicly criticized Wike’s demolition of houses in Abuja and accused him of reallocating the lands to himself and his associates.
Wike’s rebuttal to these accusations sparked further tensions, culminating in the ongoing war of words.
Despite the controversy, both sides continue to stand by their narratives, deepening the public’s interest in the matter.
