2027: ‘He’s injured Atiku, Obi too much’ — Lere Olayinka defends Wike’s ‘payback’ fear
Olayinka Defends Wike’s Concerns Over Political Retaliation
By Bayo Wahab
Lere Olayinka, a spokesperson for Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has defended Wike’s assertion that he might face political retribution if either former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi wins the 2027 presidential election. Olayinka voiced this perspective during an appearance on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Friday.
Wike recently expressed concerns about being targeted by opposition forces if President Bola Tinubu loses the upcoming election. He emphasized that his support for Tinubu has made him vulnerable politically, stating, “I will be the first politician that I think they will come after. I will be the first politician. I know they will come for my head.”
Olayinka characterized Wike as a pragmatic politician, aware of the potential repercussions of his political positions and alliances. “One thing you must understand about Wike is that he is a realist. He does not deceive himself. If today government changes, he knows he was part of those who were instrumental to Atiku not winning the election,” Olayinka stated.
He further elaborated on the longstanding tensions between Wike and Abubakar, dating back to the 2023 presidential election, during which Wike and others in the G-5 coalition opposed Abubakar’s candidacy. Olayinka remarked, “Atiku’s camp views Wike as an enemy who undermined his chances of winning in 2023. The same sentiment exists among supporters of Peter Obi. If Atiku were to become president, Wike would automatically become a target.”
When questioned about whether Wike had previously warned of possible retaliation from his opponents, Olayinka refrained from confirming such claims. “I’m not going to tell you that people have applied it,” he replied, while maintaining that Wike’s fears are not unfounded given their significant political disputes.
“He has injured Atiku too much. He has injured Peter Obi too much, and when you injure people politically, you should expect a kind of payback,” Olayinka remarked, underscoring the altercations that have characterized the political landscape.
Olayinka concluded by noting that Wike remains acutely aware that his current political alignments would not be forgotten should the opposition regain power following the 2027 elections. “He’s not deceiving himself to believe that if Atiku becomes president tomorrow, he will now become Atiku’s friend. No, he is not deceiving himself to have that kind of belief,” he added.
