Wike made the remarks during a town hall meeting in Bonny, Rivers State, where he mocked Obi for reportedly carrying his own bags despite having served as a state governor.
“As a former governor, you cannot be stingy not to have employed a personal assistant who will carry your bag. You want to show you carry your bag. We don’t want such a stingy person as a president,” Wike said.
The FCT minister also dismissed Obi’s popularity on social media, describing him as the “president of social media” and arguing that online support does not necessarily translate into the ability to govern a country.
“If you were to vote who will be president of social media, I will vote for him. But if it is to govern Nigeria, it is capital no!” he declared.
Wike further questioned Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, referring to the performance of the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo.
He also criticised politicians who abandon their political parties during periods of internal crisis, citing his own experience in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an example.
“Did you see when there was a problem in PDP? Did I run? I defeated them,” he said.
The minister questioned the political direction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the role of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, while reaffirming his support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Beyond his criticism of opposition figures, Wike raised concerns about projects initiated by the previous Rivers State administration, alleging that substantial public funds had been committed to projects that were either incomplete or had not progressed as expected.
He alleged that $39 million, which he valued at approximately ₦53 billion, was spent on a proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, claiming that construction had yet to reach the foundation stage.
“Thirty-nine million US dollars, 53 billion naira, gone! As I speak to you, there is no foundation, no one block laid,” he said.
Wike also questioned the expenditure associated with a proposed ₦60 billion monorail project.
He further alleged that $308 million was involved in the sale of a gas turbine, claiming that only $308,000 remained in the relevant account when he assumed office as governor in May 2015.
The minister also criticised a proposed $10 million mosquito fumigation exercise, raising questions about the cost and justification of the initiative.
The allegations concern projects and financial transactions from the previous administration. Details supporting the claims were not provided in the account of Wike’s remarks.
Wike also announced that the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State would unveil its candidates on October 27 as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.
He named Kingsley Chinda as the coalition’s choice for the Rivers State governorship race, adding that some candidates would contest on the platform of the APC.
According to the minister, the coalition brings together politicians from different parties, including the APC and PDP, in pursuit of shared political objectives.
“Under the Rainbow Coalition in our state today, you see APC, PDP, all of us. No more Rivers of blood, no more shooting, not many people going to die,” he said.
Wike’s remarks reflect the intensifying political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections, with disputes over candidates’ leadership credentials, governance records and party alliances increasingly shaping political mobilisation.
His criticism of Obi comes as political parties and coalitions position themselves for the presidential contest, while his comments on Rivers State projects are likely to generate further debate over public spending and accountability.
