The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on Nigerian universities to examine how the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, secured a position in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet despite being a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking at the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture held at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Thursday, the monarch expressed his astonishment over Wike’s political trajectory, describing his ministerial appointment under an All Progressives Congress-led government as a “mystery.”

“For your career, I will particularly say that I give a very strong honour to the father of the nation, President Bola Tinubu,” the Ooni said while addressing Wike, who served as the keynote speaker at the event.

“You belong to a different political party and yet are able to work together. You are part of this government. It is still a mystery. I don’t even know how it happened.

“For me, it is something that universities should be studying and I mean it. It’s very important.

“Hate him or like him, what will be, will be. He (Wike) is a politician to be studied. I don’t know how he’s been actively relevant for 20 years,” Ooni said.

The traditional ruler acknowledged that while Wike may have critics, he is widely respected for his boldness and resilience.