“Wike Is Not My Leader, He Was In School When I Was Governor”: Oyinlola Rejects PDP Leadership Claim

Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has rejected the suggestion that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is his leader in the Peoples Democratic Party, describing the minister as his “boy” and noting that Wike was still in school when he was governor.

The declaration was made on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, ValidViewNetwork reports.

THE REJECTION

Oyinlola was unequivocal. “Nobody has invited me to any rainbow coalition. I don’t know the meaning of rainbow except the one I know. He is not my leader. You don’t say that kind of thing. Yes, I am a member of the PDP, but he is not my leader,” he said.

“When I was governor, where was he? He was in school. So, he doesn’t qualify to be my leader. He’s my boy”.

He further stated that age, experience, and political history do not place Wike above him in the PDP.

He reiterated that he joined politics long ago and had already attained the highest positions in the party and in government before Wike rose to prominence.

THE CONTEXT

Oyinlola was reacting to claims that the former Rivers State Governor is the leader of the PDP.Wike, who served as Rivers State Governor from 2015 to 2023, was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023.

He remains a member of the PDP despite serving in an APC-led federal government.The former Osun governor also distanced himself from the Rainbow Coalition, the cross-party platform Wike has been building to support Tinubu’s re-election.

WHY IT MATTERS

Oyinlola’s remarks are a stark reminder of the deep divisions within the PDP and the broader opposition.

Wike has positioned himself as a kingmaker, using his influence and his Rainbow Coalition to shape the 2027 election. But Oyinlola’s rejection suggests that not everyone in the PDP is willing to accept Wike’s leadership, especially those who were in politics long before him.

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The exchange also highlights the generational and political tensions within the PDP, as older leaders resist the rise of a younger, more assertive figure.

For Wike, the rejection is a setback. For Oyinlola, it is a statement of independence. And for the PDP, it is another sign that the party remains deeply divided. ValidViewNetwork reports.