Vice President Kashim Shettima has publicly stated that Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is ethnically an Igbo man. Shettima made this comment while speaking at the South East Development Commission stakeholders forum in Enugu. He argued that names such as Chibuike Amaechi and Nyesom Wike are Igbo names and should be regarded as part of the Igbo ethnic group.
This statement comes after past remarks by Wike in which he distanced himself from Igbo identity. During his tenure as governor of Rivers State, Wike was active in engagements with Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio cultural body, despite controversies over his ethnic affiliation. Some leaders from the Ikwerre community, to which Wike belongs, are part of the wider Igbo cultural grouping and identify with Igbo heritage.
Political analysts suggest Shettima’s remarks may reflect internal tensions between Wike and other political figures from Rivers State, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who have had disagreements since the last election cycle.
