The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his comments accusing the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of disrespecting Nigeria’s national anthem and demonstrating a lack of commitment to national unity during a town hall meeting in Lagos.
The party dismissed Wike’s criticism, insisting that the singing of Nigeria’s former national anthem by its supporters was spontaneous and not an organised attempt to undermine the country’s national symbols.
In a statement issued on Saturday, November 14, 2026, and signed by the spokesperson of the NDC National Campaign Council, Dr. Chiogo Ikokwu, the party accused Wike of attempting to present himself as an authority on political tolerance and national unity despite controversies surrounding his own political activities.
The controversy followed Wike’s remarks on Friday at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, organised by the Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the gathering, Wike criticised Obi over an incident during the NDC town hall meeting in Lagos, where supporters sang Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The minister alleged that Obi remained seated while the country’s current national anthem was being sung but stood when supporters began singing the former anthem.
According to Wike, such conduct raised questions about Obi’s commitment to Nigeria’s unity and his suitability to become President.
“A whole national anthem of a country is being sung, a man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister argued that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria should demonstrate respect for the country’s national symbols, warning that disregarding the current anthem could suggest a lack of commitment to the nation.
“In a way, he does not belong to this country. In a way, he has said he does not belong to this country; that if you give him the president, he would do a different thing that will divide Nigeria,” he stated.
Wike further maintained that a presidential candidate who disregarded the national anthem should not be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the country.
“A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic national anthem must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country,” he declared.
However, reacting to the minister’s comments, the NDC National Campaign Council questioned Wike’s moral authority to accuse other political leaders of promoting division.
In its response, the party referred to Wike’s involvement in political controversies in Rivers State, his position during the 2023 presidential election and his political activities across party lines.
“I read from the media that Minister Nyesom Wike has accused the Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr. Peter Obi of causing division and lawlessness due to the rendition of the old national anthem by NDC supporters in Lagos yesterday during Mr. Obi’s town hall meeting,” Ikokwu stated.
The spokesperson expressed surprise that Wike would criticise Obi on the grounds of national unity and political responsibility.
“Can you imagine? If this report is true, Minister Wike needs to look in the mirror. It is extraordinary that someone whose political conduct in and outside Rivers State has been widely associated with deep divisions, political upheaval and prolonged instability, can suddenly appoint himself the moral referee of Nigerian politics,” the statement said.
The NDC further accused the minister of contributing to political confusion through his involvement in controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State and his political activities involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC.
“His role in the political controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election in Rivers, his open political manoeuvring across party lines – PDP/APC, and the confusion his actions have generated make his latest sermon particularly difficult to take seriously,” the statement added.
The party maintained that Wike should address controversies surrounding his own political conduct rather than criticise others over issues of national unity and tolerance.
“You cannot be an arsonist in your own backyard and turn up elsewhere preaching fire safety. Minister Wike has no moral authority to lecture others on political tolerance, unity or responsible leadership. He should put his own house in order before attempting to police the conduct of others,” Ikokwu stated.
Addressing the incident that triggered the disagreement, the NDC explained that the rendition of the former national anthem at Obi’s Lagos town hall meeting was initiated by supporters without prior planning or direction from the party’s leadership.
The party maintained that the incident should not be interpreted as a deliberate rejection of Nigeria’s current national anthem.
“It was not scripted, orchestrated or planned by anyone. It was simply in the moment, as expressed by citizens, nothing more, nothing less,” the statement explained.
The NDC also pointed out that the country’s current national anthem was subsequently sung during the same gathering, arguing that the controversy had ignored that part of the event.
“And if you watched another part of the video, they went on to sing the current national anthem,” the party stated.
The campaign council consequently accused Wike of attempting to divert public attention from issues it considered more important to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the NDC, political discussions should focus on the country’s economic challenges and the hardship facing citizens rather than disagreements over the spontaneous singing of the former national anthem at a political gathering.
“Minister Wike should stop distracting Nigerians from the gargantuan failures of the government he’s trying very hard to sell,” the statement said.
“We need to focus on the issues that matter to Nigerians in this election – the economy, and the crippling hardship inflicted by the APC government,” the NDC added.
Post Title: “You Cannot Be An Arsonist And Preach Fire Safety” — NDC Fires Back At Wike Over Criticism Of Obi’s National Anthem Conduct By Naijaonpoint.