Poor Nigerians Are Not Independent-Minded, Hunger, Insecurity Won’t Stop Them From Voting Tinubu — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said hunger and insecurity in Nigeria are unlikely to prevent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from securing significant support in the 2027 presidential election.

Wike made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja during a media chat while discussing the political behaviour of Nigerian voters and the challenges facing the country.

The minister argued that concerns over hunger and insecurity have featured in virtually every Nigerian election and should not be viewed as issues that would automatically determine voting patterns.

“There is no election in Nigeria where the issue of hunger and insecurity won’t come up,” Wike said.

He recalled that similar concerns were raised during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s elections, urging Nigerians to assess the country’s political realities rather than approach the issue from a theoretical perspective.

“Even during Buhari election, Nigerians were talking about insecurity, hunger and others. I want people to be practical, not theoretical,” he said.

Wike further argued that many Nigerian voters are influenced by community and family leaders, particularly when it comes to access to food and other forms of assistance.

“These people that talk about hunger look up to people in every state, local government, community and ward,” he said.

“In every family and community, people look up to others for food.”

The FCT minister subsequently claimed that the average Nigerian voter is not completely independent-minded, contrasting Nigeria’s political culture with what he described as the situation in some foreign countries.

He also expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure at least 25 per cent of the votes in northern states in the 2027 election.

“There is nowhere in the North that the President will not make 25%. There are so many places in the South that Atiku won’t have 10%,” Wike said, referring to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

“The culture of Nigerian politics is different from foreign countries where even your son is independent, where your wife is independent to do whatever he or she wants to do.”

Wike Acknowledges Economic Hardship

Despite his confidence in Tinubu’s electoral prospects, Wike acknowledged the hardship being experienced by Nigerians, saying the government’s economic reforms would take time to produce the desired results.

“I am not saying that things are okay, but a fact is that a foundation has been laid, whether we agree or not,” he said.

According to him, addressing Nigeria’s economic and social challenges cannot be achieved overnight.

“Solving an economic problem is not the same as praying for somebody who is sick. Solving social problems is not miraculous. It takes time. This is a country that is so battered.”

Wike’s comments come amid sustained criticism of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, which opposition politicians and some commentators have blamed for worsening the cost-of-living crisis.

Cleric Criticises Tinubu’s Economic Policies

Last Thursday, Catholic priest and Executive Director of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, George Ehusani, criticised the administration’s handling of the economy, accusing it of worsening hunger and poverty in the country.

Ehusani argued that some of the government’s policies were poorly planned, particularly the decision to remove the fuel subsidy before putting adequate measures in place to cushion its impact.

“We have ended up here because of policies that are not well thought out. He put the cart before the horse,” Ehusani said.

“Because how do you remove subsidy when you had time to think before the removal?”

He further described the level of poverty and hunger witnessed in Nigeria in recent years as unprecedented in his lifetime.

“The kind of poverty and hunger we have seen in the last three years, I never saw since I was born. Never saw adult men begging on the road for basic foods,” he said.

Wike’s latest remarks are likely to generate further debate over whether economic hardship will significantly influence voter behaviour ahead of the 2027 presidential election.