By Emmanuel Gandu
IN THE BEGINING
The man allegedly described today in some quarters as a political thug had a humble beginning.
“Wicked Wike” as some people refer to him in political circles was fortunate to have been offerred some stepping stones from his Rivers sister, Dame Patience Jonathan, and powerfully backed by President Ebele Jonathan to the exalted position of minister of state Education.
Before then, he was chief of staff to governor Rotimi Amaechi.
But Wike fell apart with all those who cleared the murky coast for him, as he had since turned around to bite the fingers that fed him.
Politically, Wike held and stiil holds the People’s Democratic Party at the jugular, never allowing anybody else to have a say.
Predictably, the lion in the PDP den pounced its fangs on Atiku Abubakar when the Turaki Adamawa denied Wike the VP ticket despite coming second position in the primaries leading to the 2023 presidential election. Atiku, who was coasting home to victory, was afraid of the “Wike” roaring lion in the presidency. Alas, Atiku denied Wike the VP slot, and Wike paid him back in his own coin. The embattled Wike turned around to deny Atiku his life time ambition – the Nigerian Presidency.
WIKE, THE MACHIAVELLIAN STRATEGIST
The strategic use of the laws of power makes Wike Nigeria’s most famous master planner for seizing and holding power. Wike is practical on power, he is not idealistic, he remains disturbingly realistic, he cares little about any ethical and moral compass of the power equation.
Wike is as good as a man, as brute as a beast, as cunning as a fox, and as strong as a lion, he has the war chess. He is a moving train that crushes anything on its track. He is strong hearted.
For a non party man to hold such strong and strategic power in APC as well as a dictator in PDP is by no means a push over.
Wike’s pungent and toxic personality has forced some rather quiet and humble national figures to voice out their feelings on the “Wike phenomenon.”
Two of them for example are Generals Tukur Buratai (rtd) and O.O Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff.
(1) General Tukur Buratai (rtd.)
“URGENT ACTION REQUIRED AS MINISTER WIKE’S CONDUCT POSES A CLEAR THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
The events of November 11, 2025, involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, demand an immediate and serious response. His public disparagement of a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces transcends mere misconduct; it represents a palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity.
A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the core of our nation’s command and control structure. It deliberately undermines the chain of command, disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and grievously wounds the morale of every individual who serves under the Nigerian flag. Such actions erode the very foundation of discipline upon which our national security apparatus stands.
This can not be dismissed as political theatre. It is a reckless endangerment of national order. This action by Wike is clearly an indication of undermining the federal government’s authority.
Consequently, Barrister Nyesom Wike must tender an immediate and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the specific officer whose honour was violated.
Our nation’s security must come first. It is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing. The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less.”
– Tukur Buratai
(2) General O O Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff
“The Nigerian Defence Academy does not produce docile officers. The officer’s response reflects admirable composure and emotional intelligence-qualities that lie at the heart of military leadership training. His ability to remain calm, firm, and respectful under verbal provocation demonstrates discipline and professionalism.
Every soldier has an element of madness… For while the right thinking man withdraws from danger, a soldier charges towards it.
Nevertheless, it is both unfortunate and inappropriate for a federal minister to use such language toward a serving officer of the Armed Forces. Public officials should model civility and restraint, especially when addressing those in uniform who embody national service and sacrifice.
Notwithstanding, the case is subject to my scrutiny.”
– O.O Oluyede
Nyesom Wike has become an enigma, a person many people love to hate, a person many people cannot but love to associate with.
Today, I am recommending the inclusion of ‘Wikelitics’ as an essential course of study, and compulsary reading for every student of government and political science in Nigeria. I also recommend that books be written on ‘Wike, Power and Politics in Nigeria.’
Today, however, Nyesom Wike has become such a powerful national figure, he has crossed the line, he has been a tsunami, a hurricane that may prove difficult to tame.
For now, it remains to be seen whether the Jagaban will tame the shrew in this machiavellian, cage the roaring lion, tame the hurricane to category 0, stop the tsunami, or risk being a victim.
Time will tell.
