According to The Sun report on 30 January, 2026, a group of clerics gathered in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday in a spirited counter-protest defending the minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, against mounting criticism from political groups and activists.
In recent video, The clerics, hailing from various faith communities, voiced support for both Wike and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, offering prayers and symbolic pledges of loyalty.
“We pray that the honourable president will continue to sustain Wike for the next eight years, Abuja will become United States,” said one of the clerics addressing the crowd, in a statement widely shared on social media.
The demonstration comes amid political tensions that have seen some party factions and civic actors call for Wike’s removal as FCT minister.
A coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders recently petitioned President Tinubu, claiming Wike’s conduct has been divisive and “inimical to party unity.”
Those critics argue the minister’s actions threaten national cohesion and should be addressed before Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Standing before scores of supporters outside a major Abuja church, religious leaders urged Nigerians to pray for political stability and for what they described as “divine guidance” on governance.
“We are here not just as worshippers but as shepherds of our communities,” said one pastor.
“In these times of political noise, we ask for God’s wisdom for our leaders so that peace, development, and unity will reign.”
Several participants joined in communal prayers, lifting voices in both Christian and Muslim invocations for peace in the FCT and across Nigeria.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a controversial figure in national politics, has been a vocal supporter of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
His tenure has been marked by robust infrastructure projects in Abuja’s rural communities and bold administrative decisions that have sometimes drawn public scrutiny. More To Discover
Discover interesting stories by clicking above.