Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has said he could appoint Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to serve in his government, citing his work ethic and performance while expressing strong reservations about his political conduct and public statements.
Adebayo said Wike had demonstrated an ability to deliver infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory and ranked him as the best-performing minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He argued that similar commitment from officials responsible for infrastructure across the states could produce significant improvements nationwide.
Brandspur Politics reports that Adebayo made the assessment during an interview with Symfoni, where he discussed the Tinubu administration, governance and recent political developments.
While acknowledging Wike’s performance, he suggested that he would restrict the minister’s tendency to speak publicly on political matters outside his official responsibilities if they served in the same government.
Adebayo said residents of the Federal Capital Territory had benefited from projects that have improved transportation and aspects of daily movement around the capital.
He nevertheless raised questions about whether some projects represented appropriate value for money, while acknowledging that physical work was being delivered.
His strongest criticism centred on Wike’s political style. Adebayo argued that aggressive rhetoric and the appearance of using force as a political instrument could send the wrong message, particularly to younger Nigerians observing the country’s democratic system.
He also criticised the amount of media attention devoted to Wike’s comments on national political issues, arguing that the minister should be allowed to concentrate more closely on his responsibilities in the Federal Capital Territory.
Beyond Wike’s performance, Adebayo questioned the Federal Government’s handling of the economy and its emphasis on rising government revenue. He argued that increased revenue and Federation Account Allocation Committee figures mean little to ordinary Nigerians if declining purchasing power continues to make everyday goods and services more difficult to afford.
Adebayo also commented on political developments in Osun State, crediting Tinubu with managing divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) while expressing concern about the conduct of political actors during the electoral process.
He criticised the involvement and behaviour of some governors, arguing that senior public officials should conduct themselves in ways that preserve the dignity of their offices and provide a better example of democratic leadership.
Despite his broader disagreements with the administration, Adebayo maintained that Wike’s capacity to execute projects distinguishes him among Tinubu’s ministers, drawing a line between what he considers the minister’s administrative performance and his political conduct.
