When news broke recently that the Presidency was moving to check the excesses of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, many Nigerians felt it was long overdue. For months, Wike, the former governor of Rivers State has offered the administration of President Bola Tinubu a steady dose of bad optics and unnecessary controversy.
Those speculating that there is a rift between Tinubu and Wike are mistaken. What is happening appears more like an attempt by the President to save his minister from self-destruction. Wike’s habitual public outbursts and combative media briefings have not only alienated allies but also generated growing public resentment that is beginning to rub off negatively on the government itself.
What makes matters worse is that Wike’s family is now being dragged into the storm. His wife, Justice Eberechi Wike, has been accused by activist networks led by Omoyele Sowore of concealing her American citizenship, a serious allegation under Nigerian constitutional and judicial ethics. Documents purportedly show that Justice Wike holds U.S. citizenship and failed to disclose this status while serving as a judge in Nigeria.
According to legal experts, this omission contravenes Section 291 of the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates that judges must not hold dual citizenship or swear allegiance to another country. Section 28 of the same Constitution further prohibits any public official from pledging loyalty to a foreign power. If proven true, this would amount to a breach of judicial integrity and a clear violation of the law.
The controversy deepened with fresh revelations about the Wike family’s multimillion-dollar real estate holdings in Florida, reportedly valued at over $6 million. Documents indicate that these properties were acquired through cash payments and later transferred to the names of the Wike children through quitclaim deeds — transactions that raise red flags for both asset concealment and money laundering.
According to Sahara Reporters, these arrangements were designed to mask the real ownership and circumvent asset declaration requirements under Nigerian law. If verified, this would not only breach Nigeria’s anti-corruption statutes but could also trigger legal scrutiny under U.S. financial regulations.
The social media campaign tagged #WikeAssetProbe has since become a moral test for President Tinubu’s administration and its “Renewed Hope Agenda.” Nigerians are demanding transparency and equal application of anti-corruption laws — without political favouritism. Civil society groups and opposition figures have called for a full investigation into allegations of questionable land allocations and financial irregularities linked to Wike’s office as FCT Minister.
Whether or not these allegations hold in court, they have already damaged the government’s credibility. The presidency cannot afford to ignore the political and ethical cost of shielding or appearing to shield one of its most controversial appointees. Wike’s frequent inflammatory remarks and defiant attitude have become a recurring embarrassment, undermining the image of the government at home and abroad.
The truth is that Wike’s media theatrics — his bluster, threats, and confrontational tone — have crossed the line from political showmanship to liability. A minister should embody composure and restraint, not chaos and controversy. Instead, Wike has often sounded reckless, unable to manage his temper or moderate his speech.
For a government struggling to maintain credibility on anti-graft reform, allowing such conduct to persist sends the wrong message. President Tinubu’s team must realise that political loyalty cannot be a substitute for integrity. The earlier they address this matter decisively, the better for both the administration’s image and the nation’s fight against corruption.
As for Wike himself, the tide of public opinion is shifting fast. These allegations — of asset concealment, abuse of office, and disregard for the law — are not issues to be brushed aside with arrogance or theatrics. If he fails to take caution, more cases may yet surface. The morning may just be beginning.
(Ifeanyi Izeze writes from Abuja. Contact: iizeze@yahoo.com; +234 803 304 3009)
