Wike’s Rise to Minister: Ooni Calls for Academic Study
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has stirred fresh conversation in Nigeria’s political discourse with a striking call to academia: study how former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike emerged as a minister in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The revered monarch made the statement on Wednesday during a public event in Lagos, emphasizing the strategic brilliance behind Wike’s political evolution from a vocal opposition figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a key cabinet member in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
“Wike becoming a minister under Tinubu is not ordinary,” the Ooni declared. “Our universities need to start offering courses that dissect such political maneuvers. It is a case study in strategy, influence, and national relevance.”
Wike, who is Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under Tinubu, is one of the most talked-about figures in contemporary Nigerian politics.
His controversial yet effective political style marked by defiance, grassroots mobilisation, and high-level bargaining has kept him at the center of national attention, even outside his party’s stronghold.
The Ooni’s remark, though delivered with a hint of humor, carries a serious undertone. It underscores the importance of political agility and the evolving nature of power-sharing in Nigeria’s democratic space.
Analysts have long debated Wike’s role in the 2023 elections, especially his influence in the PDP’s internal crises and the emergence of the G5 Governors.
The Ooni’s call adds to a growing chorus of voices urging Nigerian institutions to reframe the way political science is taught moving beyond theory to analyze real-time power dynamics, cross-party negotiations, and the complex interplay of regional interests.
As the Tinubu administration marks its second year, figures like Wike continue to dominate headlines not just for their actions, but for what they symbolize: a political landscape in flux, where loyalties shift, strategies evolve, and survival often hinges on wit as much as will.
Whether universities will heed the monarch’s call remains to be seen. But for now, one thing is clear: Wike has become more than a minister he’s a masterclass in Nigerian politics.
