Wike, Aisha Yesufu trade words over failed NDC FCT Senate bid
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and activist Aisha Yesufu exchanged sharp words after Yesufu's bid for an FCT Senate seat ended.
- Wike criticized Yesufu's ability to win a primary election, while Yesufu retorted by questioning Wike's own past primary election performance and political maneuvering.
- The exchange involved personal attacks and references to past political events, highlighting a public dispute between the two figures.
A public spat has erupted between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and activist Aisha Yesufu, following Yesufu's unsuccessful attempt to secure the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidacy for the FCT. Yesufu had announced her intention to contest the seat on May 6 after switching from the African Democratic Congress.
Thereโs one woman who said Wike is an appointee of government and that she has no business with appointees. You speak grammar, speak grammar. Ordinary primary of NDC, not APC or PDP, just ordinary NDC, what happened? She didnโt make it. Fa fa fa foul. It didnโt work. If e didnโt dey? E didnโt dey.
On Friday, Yesufu stated that the NDC would not hold primaries for the FCT Senate seat, effectively ending her bid. Wike, speaking at a candidates' luncheon for the Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, derided Yesufu's capabilities. He described her as someone who "speak[s] grammar" but could not win an "ordinary" NDC primary election in the FCT, questioning her political viability.
"Thereโs one woman who said Wike is an appointee of government and that she has no business with appointees. You speak grammar, speak grammar. Ordinary primary of NDC, not APC or PDP, just ordinary NDC, what happened? She didnโt make it. Fa fa fa foul. It didnโt work. If e didnโt dey? E didnโt dey," Wike stated, using colloquialisms to dismiss her efforts.
If dem born Wike well, make e call my name with his full chest! What Tambuwal did him in 2022 will be childโs play.
Yesufu responded sharply on her official X handle on Sunday, challenging Wike to mention her name directly. She accused Wike of also failing to win primaries in 2022, alleging he lobbied for a running mate position but was not chosen. Yesufu further criticized him for allegedly aligning with another politician and contributing to the decline of a major party, contrasting his actions with her own political aspirations. She concluded by asserting her own strength and independence, stating that individuals from her background do not "grovel."
Let me wait make the man get liver mention name! Then the man doing boi boi because he has to be in power to have authority will know those of us from Kukuruku empire of Edo State in South South no dey grovel.
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.