FCT Minister Takes Political Swagger to Zamfara Governor, Boasts of Past PDP Showdown
From Yahaya Idris
The political war of words between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has taken another turn, with the former Rivers State Governor boasting that money could not save the governor from his political influence during their days in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Wike fired back at Lawal after the Zamfara governor reportedly referred to him as “that guy.”
Apparently unwilling to allow the description to pass without a political response, Wike used a media parley on Tuesday to revisit their past political differences, presenting himself as the man who called the shots when both politicians were still operating within the PDP.
“Ask the governor of Zamfara State. When he was in PDP, I chased him away. He had money. They couldn’t withstand me,” Wike declared.
With that statement, the FCT minister appeared determined to remind Lawal that, in his version of their political history, financial muscle was no substitute for political strength.
In Wike’s telling, having money was not enough to guarantee political survival when the battle moved beyond the bank account and into the arena of party influence, loyalty and internal power struggles.
When Money Meets Political Muscle
Wike’s remark has added another layer of drama to the already tense relationship between the two politicians.
His central message was unmistakable: whatever financial resources Lawal possessed during their days in the PDP, Wike believed the Zamfara governor could not match his political influence at the time.
It was a familiar style of Nigerian political exchange, where past victories are recalled like trophies and old party disagreements are revived whenever political tempers rise.
But the minister’s declaration also raises an interesting question: in Nigeria’s party politics, does political influence count more than financial strength, or does the answer depend on who is telling the story?
For Wike, the episode appears to be a reminder that political battles are not always won by the man with the deepest pocket. Sometimes, the person who understands the party’s internal power structure may have the louder voice.
From Party Disagreement to Public Political Theatre
The exchange between Wike and Lawal illustrates how political disagreements can quickly move from private party disputes to public contests of influence and reputation.
Rather than allowing the reported description of him as “that guy” to remain unanswered, Wike chose to respond with a reminder of their past encounter, portraying himself as the stronger political force in their PDP days.
Whether the Zamfara governor accepts Wike’s version of events or offers a different account remains a separate matter. For now, the FCT minister has made his position clear: he believes his political strength once outweighed Lawal’s financial resources.
In the theatre of Nigerian politics, apparently, even yesterday’s party battles can become today’s ammunition—and nobody seems willing to surrender the final word.
One thing is certain: Wike has turned a reported dismissive description into an opportunity to remind his political audience of what he considers a past victory. And in a political environment where reputation can be as valuable as money, the minister appears determined to keep his own valuation high.