By John Umeh
Former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has publicly expressed his support for the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, over a recent controversy involving Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. Wike, speaking in a viral video, recalled that during his time as governor, Peter Obi always extended the courtesy of notifying him before visiting Rivers State—a gesture Wike believes should also be extended to other sitting governors, regardless of political affiliations.
Wike’s comments come on the heels of Governor Okpebholo’s complaint that Peter Obi recently visited Edo State without informing the state government or paying a courtesy call, which many in government circles interpreted as disrespectful. The incident has sparked a wave of political conversation, particularly concerning protocol and respect among top political leaders.
In his statement, Wike said, “When I was Governor of Rivers State, Peter Obi never came to my state without first informing me. He showed that respect because he understood the importance of protocol and cooperation. So why should it be different now?”
The FCT Minister went further to commend Governor Okpebholo for speaking up, stating that the office of a governor must be respected regardless of who occupies it or which political party they belong to. According to Wike, leaders must not overlook protocol in the name of politics or populism.
“Governor Okpebholo deserves that same level of respect I got. It’s not about party lines—it’s about doing things the right way,” Wike added.
Wike’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions from the public and political stakeholders. Supporters of Governor Okpebholo and members of the ruling APC in Edo see the endorsement from Wike—a prominent PDP figure—as a validation of the governor’s position. On the other hand, some Labour Party loyalists have criticized Wike’s comments as politically motivated and unnecessary, especially at a time when Peter Obi is touring states to engage with citizens.
Peter Obi has yet to respond directly to Wike’s claims or the ongoing controversy.
As the political temperature heats up ahead of 2027, this development once again highlights the fine line between political courtesy and partisanship. For Wike, the message is simple: protocol and mutual respect among leaders should not be compromised—no matter how popular or powerful a politician may be.
