Sule Lamido, former Jigawa Governor Warns: Tinubu Will Dump Wike Once South-South Is Captured

Sule Lamido, the former Governor of Jigawa State and a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of using Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as a mere tool to gain political foothold in the South-South region. In a fiery commentary that has since sparked reactions across party lines, Lamido described Wike’s appointment as strategic, premeditated, and short-term.

Sule Lamido, speaking during a media interaction, stated, “By the time Tinubu is able to secure the South-South in his own basket, Wike will become irrelevant, and he will remove him. He appointed Wike for a purpose, gave him an office for a purpose; by the time the purpose is no more, that’s the end of it.” The former governor’s remarks are being interpreted as a direct warning to political players about what he sees as Tinubu’s long-term consolidation plan disguised as inclusive governance.

Wike’s Role Under the Microscope

According to Lamido, Wike’s celebrated cross-party appointment into a strategic portfolio is less about national unity and more about tactical infiltration. He described Wike’s political clout as “an expendable asset” in Tinubu’s scheme to dominate Rivers State and the broader South-South terrain, areas that have traditionally leaned toward the PDP.

Wike’s larger-than-life presence in the FCT and his visible loyalty to Tinubu have stirred discomfort in both APC and PDP circles. Lamido argues that while Wike enjoys temporary proximity to power, his future in Tinubu’s administration remains bleak once electoral and regional goals are achieved. “It’s all about timing and utility,” Lamido insists, “Wike is in for a rude awakening.”

South-South as the Next Battlefield

Sule Lamido’s comments underscore the intensifying scramble for political control of the South-South zone ahead of the 2027 general elections. With a rich oil economy and a politically volatile electorate, the South-South remains a strategic stronghold. Tinubu’s ambition, Lamido suggests, is to peel away layers of PDP dominance by installing trusted loyalists under the guise of inclusivity.

“Once the South-South is firmly under Tinubu’s grasp,” Lamido warned, “he no longer needs Wike. He becomes a liability.” Analysts interpret this as a hint that Tinubu’s real targets are grassroots structures in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States, using Wike’s popularity as a Trojan horse to access traditional PDP strongholds.

PDP’s Internal Wounds and the ‘Wike Factor’

The former governor also used the opportunity to criticize the PDP’s inability to discipline Wike or check his open collaboration with the APC. According to Lamido, Wike’s presence in Tinubu’s cabinet is not only a betrayal of party loyalty but also a reflection of how broken the opposition structure has become.

“He (Wike) has been allowed to dance freely on PDP’s grave,” Lamido lamented. “When a man can sabotage his party and be rewarded with a plum office, it says more about the party than the individual.” The PDP’s continued silence on Wike’s double allegiance, he argues, emboldens similar behavior from others and weakens the party’s moral standing ahead of future elections.

Tinubu’s Calculated Power Engineering

Sule Lamido’s narrative paints Tinubu as a cold political engineer who builds alliances not out of trust but utility. The president, he believes, is methodically reconstructing Nigeria’s political map to suit his re-election ambitions. “He doesn’t make emotional appointments,” Lamido declared, “he makes transactional ones.”

Observers have noted that Tinubu’s appointments – cutting across ethnic and party lines – may seem inclusive on paper but often come with expiration dates tied to their strategic value. Sule Lamido warned Nigerians to look beyond the headlines and ceremonial handshakes. “This is about 2027,” he said, “and Tinubu is already four moves ahead.”

Fallout and National Implications

Lamido’s assertions have already begun rippling through Nigeria’s political landscape, with calls for PDP to reclaim its soul and for Wike to publicly clarify his allegiance. Some APC insiders have also dismissed Lamido’s claims as “old guard bitterness,” but the underlying concern remains – is Wike truly indispensable in Tinubu’s long game?

If Lamido’s projections hold water, Nigeria may witness another round of intense political realignments before 2027. The warning is clear: Wike’s current relevance might just be the first step in a grander exit strategy. The real question is whether he is aware—or if he too is being outplayed in a game far bigger than himself.