Ooni: How Wike became a minister under Tinubu should be studied by universities

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, has called on universities to examine the path Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), took to become part of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

The Ooni made this statement on Thursday while speaking at the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture hosted by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, where Wike delivered the keynote address.

He expressed astonishment at Wike’s appointment as a minister in a government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite his membership in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), referring to the situation as a “mystery.”

“For your career, I will particularly say that I give a very strong honour to the father of the nation, President Bola Tinubu. You belong to a different political party and yet are able to work together,” the traditional ruler told Wike.

“You are part of this government. It is still a mystery. I don’t even know how it happened. For me, it is something that universities should be studying and I mean it. It’s very important.

“Hate him or like him, what will be, will be. He (Wike) is a politician to be studied. I don’t know how he’s been actively relevant for 20 years.”

The traditional ruler said that although Wike may have critics, his boldness has earned him admiration from many people.

Tinubu appointed Wike to the position of minister in August 2023.

Before the presidential election, Wike had said he would not support Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate at the time, due to disagreements over zoning and the refusal of Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s then national chairman, to resign.

During the election in Rivers State, Tinubu secured 231,591 votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party received 175,071 votes, and Atiku Abubakar got 88,468 votes.

A few days before he took office, Tinubu stated that he would not have won the presidential election without Wike’s backing.