Wike and ‘Gbemudani’: What Is He Really Up To?

By Dr. Gloria Boma Harry

A curious word has entered Nigeria’s political vocabulary: “Gbemudani”; a Nigerian expression used to describe someone perceived to be acting foolishly or without sense.

The expression, popularised in political discourse by Rufai Oseni, a Nigerian TV broadcaster, Arise TV news anchor and talk show host, was used in questioning the political calculations surrounding FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

According to the Oseni perspective, it is someone who foolishly holds on to something in trust for another person, while many others, who have given their interpretation in the context of politics, say it is simply a word used to describe a ‘place holder’ or a stooge.

But behind the humour lies a serious question: Is Wike genuinely confused, or is there a bigger political script Nigerians have yet to understand?

Wike’s political positioning has continued to raise eyebrows. While associated with a faction of the PDP, he has openly supported President Bola Tinubu and interests of the ruling APC.

The question becomes even more intriguing in Rivers State. If his faction has its own governorship candidate, yet Wike supports an APC candidate, what exactly is the strategy?

Is it political confusion, calculated realignment, or a carefully choreographed game?

And then comes the Supreme Court question.

Can the emerging political coalition simply be taken at face value without considering the legal and political implications of the court’s pronouncements on the PDP crisis, including the disputed convention, the status of key party members and the question of who legitimately controls the party?

These are not trivial matters. If the legal foundation is unsettled, what exactly is the political coalition affirming?

There is a popular Nigerian saying: “When monkey hand taye for soup, e dey look like human hand.” Sometimes, things are not quite what they appear to be.

Perhaps “Gbemudani” is part of the script. Perhaps he is the script. For now, Nigerians are watching the alliances, the contradictions and the manoeuvres.

And only time will tell who is playing whom.

Dr Gloria Boma Harry
Writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Email: gloriab4real@gmail.com