Tinubu Has Given Wike Free Hand, He’s Now Like Small President – Oshoma

Lawyer and public policy analyst Liborous Oshoma has criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of wielding excessive influence in government and acting as though he has unrestricted authority.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Oshoma reacted to the controversy surrounding the alleged unlawful access to voter data belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Lere Olayinka, an aide to the FCT minister.

According to him, INEC, as the custodian of the voter database under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, has a duty to immediately carry out a preliminary investigation into the incident.

He said the electoral body must establish how the breach happened, identify those involved and determine whether there is enough evidence to support further legal action.

Oshoma explained that once INEC establishes a case, its findings should be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.

Naija News reports that he noted that while the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation plays a role in legal proceedings, it is not responsible for conducting investigations.

The legal practitioner stated that the Department of State Services (DSS)  is already questioning Olayinka and other persons connected to the matter.

He added that after reviewing the investigation file, the Attorney General’s office would decide whether the evidence supports prosecution.

He said: “With what we have seen in Nigeria, how we are raising superhumans instead of superinstitutions, how one man can bulldoze everybody, bulldoze his way through. I’m talking about Nyesom Wike now. And Lere Olayinka works with Nyesom Wike.

“Even though we say he’s a public officer, he works with Nyesom Wike. And we’ve seen the high-handedness in some cases of the minister of the FCT. People have complained. And it’s like the president had given him a free hand. He’s almost like the small president.”