Wike Blasts Oyinlola, Calls Former Osun Governor A Failure Over Leadership Dispute

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a fresh attack on former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, following comments in which the former governor dismissed Wike’s claim to political leadership over him.

The disagreement began after Oyinlola declared that Wike could never be his political leader, describing the minister as someone junior to him in age and political experience.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Oyinlola explained that he was already serving as governor when Wike was still in school, insisting that the FCT Minister did not qualify to be his leader.

He also stated that although he remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he had not been invited to join the Rainbow Coalition and did not recognise Wike as his political leader.

However, Wike responded to the former governor’s comments during his monthly media chat with selected journalists in Abuja on Thursday, describing Oyinlola as an unsuccessful governor who failed to secure a second term in office.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the FCT Minister also alleged that Oyinlola had previously approached him to lobby for the position of deputy national chairman of the PDP, but he rejected the request.

Wike maintained that despite Oyinlola’s claim of seniority, the former governor had sought his support for the party position, adding that he deliberately refused to back his ambition.

“Oyinlola was a failed governor who couldn’t win a second term as Osun governor. Oyinlola says he is my senior, but he comes to lobby me to become deputy chairman. I told him no, that I would fail him, and I did,” Wike said.

The exchange has further highlighted the growing political disagreements among prominent PDP figures, particularly as discussions and alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to generate attention.