The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has labelled former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as political gamblers.

Speaking during a Rainbow Coalition town hall at Ayama in Abuja/Odual council of Rivers State, Mr Wike urged Nigerians not to entrust their future to Messrs Abubakar, Obi and Amaechi.

“Don’t trust your destiny to political gamblers. Don’t trust your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people,” Mr Wike charged the cheering crowd.

He described political gamblers as people who keep contesting the presidency every four years, hoping to recover what they lost, without any genuine vision for the country.

“These people are political gamblers, and you cannot give your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people; you cannot hand over your destiny to political gamblers. Give your destiny to somebody we know who has tried all this, and he has done it,” he said.

He added, “Atiku has run for presidency several times! That is why I said he is a political gambler. Every four years, he gambles. Every four years he gambles.”

While Mr Abubakar has contested the presidency six times since 1993, Mr Obi has run only once, in the 2023 election. Both politicians contested against President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

The minister reminded the people of Abua/Odual that project delivery—not political rhetoric—should dictate their electoral choices.

He called on Mr Amaechi to show his contributions to the local government area, especially his administration’s projects there. Mr Amaechi is also the African Democratic Congress’ vice-presidential candidate.

“I challenge any other person who was governor to come to Abua/Odual and point out what he or she did for the people of Abua/Odual,” he said.

Mr Wike, however, asked the people to vote for John Iderima, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Abua-Odual state constituency.

He endorsed Kingsley Chinda for Rivers State governor, Felix Obua for the Rivers West senatorial seat and Solomon Boss for the Abua/Odual-Ahoada East federal constituency.

This is a system that we will sustain when we come into government. We have learnt from him, and we will continue.

“It will be a bottom-up approach; the people will decide and determine their fate in government,” Mr Chinda said.

He also urged voters to support John Iderima, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the Abua/Odual State Constituency.

Mr Chinda commended Mr Wike for mobilising support for Mr Tinubu and other candidates across communities in Rivers State.