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Wike is Nigeria’s king of democracy, human capital development — Dan’arewa

October 29, 2026

By Mohammed Ismail

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Uba Mohammed Dan’arewa, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as “Nigeria’s king of democracy” and a leading advocate of human capital development, national unity and politics of inclusion.

Dan’arewa said Wike’s place in Nigeria’s political history could not be adequately assessed without examining his contributions to political realignment, inter-party cooperation and the debate over whether governance should be driven primarily by party loyalty or demonstrable performance.

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He argued that Wike has distinguished himself through a political philosophy that encourages Nigerians to look beyond party affiliations and assess public office holders by their records, accessibility and contributions to national development.

According to him, Nigeria’s democratic evolution would be incomplete without acknowledging Wike’s role in challenging established political conventions and promoting cooperation among political actors from different ideological and partisan backgrounds.

“Wike represents a school of political thought that places national interest, performance and the welfare of the people above rigid partisan considerations,” Dan’arewa said.

He maintained that the FCT minister’s political trajectory reflected a commitment to the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers, who sought to build a united country where ethnic, religious, regional and political differences would not constitute barriers to collective progress.

Dan’arewa identified Wike’s Rainbow Coalition as a contemporary expression of his long-standing advocacy of cooperation across party lines for the overall goal of Nigeria’s development.

The coalition has emerged as a platform through which stakeholders from different parties, particularly the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been working together around shared political objectives.

Wike has repeatedly argued that political parties should serve as vehicles for attaining power rather than become obstacles to cooperation in the pursuit of development and good governance.

At a Rainbow Coalition meeting in Bwari, Abuja, on October 22, 2026, the minister reiterated that party affiliation should not take precedence over public interest and the performance of elected officials. He subsequently urged other states to consider the coalition model as a means of reducing political hostility while promoting stability.

Dan’arewa said the philosophy underlying the arrangement was consistent with democratic pluralism, which recognises the legitimacy of diverse political opinions while encouraging dialogue, peaceful competition and cooperation where common interests exist.

He argued that a democracy becomes more meaningful when opponents can disagree without treating one another as enemies, adding that national development requires collaboration among leaders, irrespective of their political platforms.

Dan’arewa also cited Wike’s record in the education sector as evidence of his commitment to human capital development, particularly during his tenure as Minister of State for Education under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Wike was appointed Minister of State for Education in July 2011 and later served as supervising minister of the ministry in 2013.

According to Dan’arewa Wike has instituted reforms and initiatives aimed at expanding access to basic education, including the provision of free textbooks, learning materials and support for special schools.

He noted that Wike’s tenure had tremendously improve access to quality basic education for millions of children.

Dan’arewa argued that investment in education represents one of the most enduring contributions a political leader can make to society because it equips young people with the knowledge and skills required to participate productively in the economy.

He said the challenge of out-of-school children, particularly in northern Nigeria, underscored the need for sustained public investment in education, teacher development, school infrastructure and programmes that enable disadvantaged families to keep their children in schools.

He maintained that human capital development should not be reduced to the construction of physical infrastructure alone, but should also encompass the creation of opportunities for young people, vocational training, skills acquisition and access to quality public services which Wike has been pursuing all his life.

Dan’arewa described Wike’s role in the political developments preceding the 2023 general election as a significant episode in Nigeria’s contemporary democratic history.

“Wike, then governor of Rivers State and a prominent member of the PDP, became a central figure in the G5 governors’ dispute with the party’s national leadership following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2022.

“The dispute centred substantially on demands for greater regional balance in the party’s leadership, including calls for the resignation of the then national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, following the emergence of a northern presidential candidate.

“Wike and his allies subsequently distanced themselves from Atiku’s presidential campaign, creating a major internal challenge for the opposition party ahead of the election. Although the G5 governors did not initially make a formal collective endorsement of the APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, Wike’s political position became closely associated with the realignments that helped shape the contest,” he said.

Dan’arewa noted that because of Wike’s pragmatic role, Tinubu eventually won the February 2023 presidential election.

Dan’arewa said Wike’s decision to break with the expectations of his party demonstrated the capacity of political actors to exercise independent judgement rather than submit unquestioningly to party discipline.

He described the episode as a reference point in the debate over internal party democracy, accountability and the freedom of elected leaders to pursue positions they consider consistent with their convictions.

Dan’arewa said one of the most important principles associated with Wike’s political outlook was the proposition that voters should evaluate candidates on their records rather than merely on the parties under whose platforms they contest elections.

He argued that conscientious Nigerians should pay greater attention to evidence of performance, accessibility, integrity, responsiveness and the capacity to deliver public services.

According to him, such an approach could strengthen accountability by compelling politicians to demonstrate what they have achieved rather than rely exclusively on party slogans, ethnic affiliations or electoral promises.

Dan’arewa maintained that Wike’s political engagements had helped bring these issues into public discussion, particularly through efforts to establish working relationships among politicians who would otherwise remain on opposing sides of the partisan divide.

He further argued that the quality of democracy should be measured not only by the conduct of elections or the ability of political parties to mobilise supporters, but also by the capacity of elected governments to improve living conditions, protect citizens’ rights and maintain institutions that serve the public interest.

According to him, political stability, national cohesion and economic opportunity are essential components of democratic governance because they enable citizens to participate meaningfully in public life.

He said Wike’s emphasis on political cooperation and development had placed him at the centre of conversations about the future direction of Nigerian politics.

Dan’arewa added that the minister’s political career—from local government administration and federal education responsibilities to two terms as Rivers State governor and his present role in the FCT—provided a basis for examining his influence on governance and political organisation.

It is on record Wike served as chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area between 1999 and 2007, later becoming chief of staff to the Rivers State governor before his appointment as minister. He was elected governor in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, completing his second term in May 2023.

Dan’arewa said these successive positions had enabled Wike to participate in different levels of government and develop relationships across Nigeria’s political landscape.