Wike: My job is To Give Atiku, Obi High Blood Pressure — I Don’t Want Them to Feel Well

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says he will not let up the political heat on Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi, his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) counterpart.

Speaking on Friday in Abuja, Wike said there is currently no formidable opposition party in the country, noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which would have been the leading opposition party, has been weakened by internal crisis.

“I have told you we have no opposition. What you have is people who are just trying to see whether they can be relevant. Who is the opposition leader? Ordinarily, it would have been PDP, but because of the crisis we have had, you can’t see a formidable party that you will call the leading opposition party,” Wike said.

“So, whatever they [opposition] feel is not my business. I don’t want them to feel well. It is not my wish for them to feel well. My business is to make them not feel well all day, because they will be having high blood pressure. I guess that is my job — to make them have high blood pressure.

“I am not here to make them feel well. You see, when you are having a contest with somebody, your business is not to make him feel well. Your business is to make sure that you beat him thoroughly, and he will be sick all through.

“And that is what we are doing to them. So, how Atiku feels, how Obi feels, does not give me a headache. In fact, if I knew how they feel now, I would add more crises for them.”

Wike, a member of the PDP who is campaigning for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, has frequently taken jabs at the two presidential candidates.

On Thursday, Wike criticised Atiku over his promise to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Wike described Atiku as “confused”, adding that the former vice-president would say anything to win the presidency.

In October 2025, Wike taunted Obi by dismissing his presidential bid, calling the former Anambra governor a “social media presidential candidate”.