BY AHMED AKANBI
Former President of the Ijaw Youths Council Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, has said the Rainbow Coalition being championed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, is an advantage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid and should not be seen as a threat by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.
Eradiri said the coalition, which draws support across party lines, was formed solely to mobilise bulk votes for Tinubu in 2027 and not to advance the interest of any governor.
”Wike and his Rainbow Coalition should be seen as an added advantage to Tinubu’s re-election because the Rainbow Coalition was formed solely to work for Mr President and not to advance the interest of any governor,” he said.
He described the initiative as a product of political ingenuity that has gained traction as a powerful alliance beyond the APC’s formal structures.
”Out of sheer ingenuity, Wike developed the Rainbow concept, which has gained traction as a powerful force of alliance,” Eradiri noted.
Reacting to the rift between Wike and the Progressive Governors Forum, he urged APC governors to emulate the model instead of antagonising it.
”I encourage other governors to think out of the box and develop similar concepts that will aid mobilisation and deliver bulk votes to President Tinubu in 2027,” he said.
Wike has maintained that his coalition is focused only on securing Tinubu’s second term and does not mean the APC will abandon its candidates in governorship and legislative contests, while the governors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, have warned against any arrangement that weakens the party’s candidates.
Eradiri said governors who genuinely want Tinubu re-elected should work with Wike to actualise that goal.
”The minister has said that his interest is the re-election of the President. Therefore, the governors, who genuinely love the President, are expected to work with him to actualise that sole interest,” he said.
He described Wike as a pillar and backbone of the Tinubu re-election project.
”Wike has remained a pillar and a backbone to the President and whoever is working for the re-election of the President is expected to support Wike,” he said.
Eradiri said attacks on Wike’s mobilisation drive amount to negative jealousy, stressing that the concept deserves commendation.
”Wike’s political concept deserves commendation, not condemnation. The minister deserves appreciation, not negative jealousy,” he said.
He urged the FCT Minister to expand the coalition nationwide, saying Tinubu’s second term must not be left to chance.