Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a direct swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, saying he will “continue contesting as President on social media, but not as President of Nigeria.”

Wike made the remark on Thursday during the inauguration of newly constructed roads in the Mabushi District of Abuja, in reaction to Obi’s criticism of the state of public schools in the FCT.

The former Anambra governor had visited LEA Primary School, Kapwa, on Wednesday, where he described the school’s poor conditions as “a national disgrace” and “proof of Nigeria’s hollow commitment to education.”

Responding, Wike accused Obi of playing politics with everything and seeking social media sympathy through emotional public appearances.

“I hear one of the social media presidential candidates went to one of the local authority schools and was saying that the government has abandoned public schools. In particular, his name is Mr Peter Obi. It is not everything you must play politics with,” Wike said.

The minister questioned Obi’s moral right to criticise others on governance and infrastructure, alleging that the former governor neglected key projects in Anambra State during his tenure.

“Peter Obi, you were governor for eight years in Anambra State. If you had completed all your jobs, nobody would be talking about developing Anambra by now. And why did you have problems with your successor?” he queried.

Wike boasted that he had achieved more in two years as FCT Minister than Obi did in eight years as governor.

“We just came into office two years ago; we have not even served four years. But you served eight good years. Compare two years of what we have done in the FCT to your eight years in Anambra — can you really say you love this country or Ndi Anambra? Certainly not,” he stated.

The minister also mocked Obi’s political leadership, saying the presidency was not for someone who “could not manage a small party.”

“You ran as President under a party; you could not even manage the party to hold it together. It is Nigeria of over 200 million people that you want to manage? It’s not available for people like you,” Wike said.