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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has strongly criticized the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, accusing him of avoiding genuine political struggle in favour of opportunistic “Food is Ready” politics.
Speaking during a high-level political engagement in Port Harcourt, Wike stated that while some politicians are willing to build structures, endure grassroots work, and fight for power the hard way, Peter Obi prefers to align with situations where victory appears pre-packaged and effortless.
“Peter Obi doesn’t like struggle. He prefers ‘Food is Ready’ politics,” Wike declared. “He wants to reap where he did not sow. He waits until others have done the heavy lifting, then comes in with sweet words and social media noise. That is not how real politics works. In politics, you must build structures, you must invest, you must be ready to fight when necessary. You cannot be a professional observer waiting for ‘food is ready’.
The FCT Minister further argued that Obi’s approach to politics reflects a lack of commitment to the difficult but necessary work of nation-building, particularly at the grassroots level. He contrasted this with politicians who have consistently invested in people, infrastructure, and political machinery over the years.
Wike emphasized that true leadership requires more than rhetoric and online popularity, urging Nigerians to distinguish between “serious politicians” and those who engage in “opportunistic politics.”
This latest remark comes amid ongoing political realignments in Nigeria ahead of future electoral cycles, as major stakeholders continue to assess the strengths and weaknesses of key political figures.