Wike Defends His Support for Tinubu Across Party Lines: “I Am Not Bothered.” Of Course He Isn’t, My Friend. He Is Busy Being Everyone’s Colour

Let me explain Nigerian politics to you using one word: Rainbow.

Wike has again defended his cross-party support for Tinubu’s re-election, and the way he did it was beautiful. He said that people accusing the Rainbow Coalition of trying to destabilise parties are saying “baseless” things, and that he is “not bothered about what accusations people make.” A man who is truly not bothered does not hold a press chat on a Monday while inspecting roads. But fine, I believe you.

The Rainbow Coalition, for those who are confused, is a group of people from different parties who all support Tinubu’s re-election. It has no ties to the APC, Wike says. So it is a party that is not a party, supporting a candidate of a party it is not in. In Nigeria we call this “a flexible arrangement”. In my village we call it “he is at the wedding of both families and eating from both pots.”

And the explanation continues. Wike says his main concern is whether Tinubu will be re-elected for a second term. Not whether his own party survives. Not whether his own members are comfortable. Tinubu. That is a very clear job description. If this were a job advert, it would say: “Opposition member wanted. Duty: support the government.”

Then came the history lesson. When people complained, Wike asked why nobody raised the same alarm in 2023 when the G5 governors did their thing. That is the Nigerian argument, my friend. “You did it before, so I can do it now.” It is the same logic as a child saying, “Daddy, you were also late yesterday.”

Then he said that support is only for the presidential race. After Tinubu is re-elected, everyone can go and face elections in their states, because “politics is local”. Brilliant. So for the big seat, we are all friends, wearing the same colours. For the small seats, we go back to fighting like a family that takes one photograph together at Christmas and sends the lawyers in January.

And what about the APC governors? Hope Uzodimma, the APC Governors Forum chairman, said they have made no formal deal with any individual or opposition party. So the party says there is no deal, Wike says there is a coalition, and the opposition says there is a betrayal. Everyone is telling the truth, which is exactly what makes it suspicious.

He even addressed 2031, saying Mr President will not run then. Nobody had asked about 2031. In Nigeria, the moment you deny wanting a seat, a seat is already being measured for you.

I admire the confidence. A man who can be in the opposition, in the government, and in the Rainbow all at once deserves a prize. Maybe the colour is not red or green. Maybe it is simply “whichever party is winning.”