Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has stirred national discourse after describing Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, as a “rascal” whose work ethic makes his conduct tolerable.
Sheriff made the comment during a live interview on Channels Television on Monday, where he addressed political performance, ministerial credibility, and internal dynamics within the federal cabinet.
“I’m not a fan of Wike. Wike’s character is that of a rascal, but you cannot take away from him that he has changed Abuja,” Sheriff declared. “From the time Abuja was created up to this moment, nobody has worked like him. So people like me will ignore his rascality because he is working.”
He added that while some ministers under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration have consistently failed to deliver on their mandates, Wike’s performance in the FCT has made him stand out.
“There are ministers that are not working but lying to Nigerians. It is not the president’s problem,” he added, suggesting that underperformance among cabinet members should not be blamed on the presidency but on individual incompetence.
Sheriff, who briefly led the PDP National Working Committee in 2016, also claimed that the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is making his way back to the opposition PDP, hinting at what may become a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
