John Nwaigwe
Let Wike Be: The Politics of a Rainbow Coalition and the National Interest
By Abraham Amah
In the complex and often unpredictable theatre of Nigerian politics, where yesterday’s opponents can become today’s allies and today’s allies may become tomorrow’s rivals, there is wisdom in recognising that political realignment is not necessarily betrayal, but can sometimes be an expression of strategic pragmatism. This is why the APC governors and other political actors should allow the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, to navigate his political course without unnecessary confrontation or attempts to undermine the emerging rainbow coalition of political interests around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Whatever one may think of Wike’s political choices, his decision to work within the broader architecture of the Tinubu administration represents a significant political boost to the President’s prospects for re-election and, more importantly, can be interpreted as part of the gradual evolution of a Government of National Unity in which competence, political experience and national interest transcend traditional party boundaries.
Wike remains one of the most influential figures produced by the Peoples Democratic Party in contemporary Nigerian politics. His political influence extends beyond formal party positions and is rooted in years of grassroots mobilisation, political organisation, strategic networking and an unmistakable capacity to read the political environment. His present course should be understood within the broader principle of “Enye Nde Ebe, Enye Nde Eba” — a principle of natural justice which recognises that every part deserves its fair share. In the Nigerian context, this principle speaks to fairness, inclusion, balance and the need to ensure that no section or interest is excluded from the national project. It is a philosophy that can promote national unity by encouraging accommodation, mutual respect and equitable participation in governance.
What is particularly significant is that Wike’s present alignment with the Tinubu administration should not be reduced to personal ambition or partisan opportunism. His action is, in many respects, the best course for Nigeria at this moment because it encourages political cooperation, strengthens national stability and creates room for experienced leaders from different political traditions to contribute to governance. In a democracy, political actors are permitted to reassess their positions when circumstances change, provided such decisions do not violate the law or undermine the national interest. At a time when Nigeria needs greater political stability, broader consensus and cooperation across party lines, a coalition that brings together people from different political traditions may actually strengthen the democratic process. President Tinubu’s ability to attract influential figures from outside the APC establishment can therefore be viewed as an opportunity to broaden the political base of governance and deepen the concept of a government that accommodates diverse interests.
The irony, however, is that while some opposition politicians are consumed by internal disagreements, personal ambitions and the struggle for political control, an influential opposition figure is demonstrating that constructive engagement with the government of the day can produce greater national value than permanent confrontation. Opposition is an essential pillar of democracy, but opposition should never become synonymous with obstruction. When partisan interests begin to take precedence over the stability, unity and economic progress of the country, the opposition itself risks losing the moral authority required to effectively challenge government policies.
This is why the APC governors should resist the temptation to treat Wike’s political trajectory as a threat. Politics is not a zero-sum game in which the success of one political actor must automatically translate into the defeat of another. A politically sophisticated administration should understand that accommodating influential voices from across the political divide can strengthen rather than weaken the governing coalition. The emerging rainbow coalition may, in fact, represent a more mature phase of Nigerian politics in which competence, influence, shared interests and national objectives become as important as party labels.
For President Tinubu, the political implication is obvious. Every credible alliance that expands his political reach, particularly across traditional party boundaries, strengthens his re-election architecture. Wike’s present political engagement is therefore beneficial not only to Nigeria’s national interest but also to President Tinubu’s prospects for re-election. By supporting cooperation across party lines and contributing to a broader political coalition, Wike is helping to create the stability and wider acceptance that can strengthen the President’s bid for a second term. Beyond electoral calculations, however, the greater opportunity is to transform these political relationships into a genuine national consensus around economic recovery, security, infrastructure, institutional reform and social development. The ultimate test of any coalition should therefore not be who gains the most politically, but whether Nigeria gains from it.
Wike’s political positioning may be debated, criticised or even resisted, but it cannot be ignored. He understands the importance of political engagement, strategic cooperation and national inclusion. His present course has already demonstrated that the boundaries between Nigeria’s major political parties are far more fluid than many politicians pretend. The APC should therefore focus on governing effectively, while allowing Wike to pursue his political engagement within the limits of the law and democratic practice.
Nigeria needs less political warfare and more political statesmanship. It needs leaders who can disagree without destroying institutions, compete without demonising one another and cooperate when the national interest demands it. If the emerging rainbow coalition around President Tinubu can contribute to that objective, then it deserves to be encouraged rather than condemned.
At the end of the day, politics is temporary, but the nation is permanent. Those who occupy positions of influence must therefore ask themselves a simple question: will their political decisions advance Nigeria, or merely advance themselves? If Wike’s present political engagement helps broaden the governing coalition, strengthen national stability, promote the principle of “Enye Nde Ebe, Enye Nde Eba”, and create an environment in which government can deliver for Nigerians, then the wiser course for all political actors is not to fight the phenomenon, but to understand it, engage it and ensure that the national interest remains at the centre of it all.
