Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that his decision to join President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration was driven by a firm belief in its capacity to deliver tangible dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service at St. James’ Church, Asokoro, Abuja, Wike praised the President’s leadership, urging Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of the administration’s ongoing reforms.
“If the Tinubu government had not performed, I would not have supported it,” Wike stated. “The progress made so far—particularly in the FCT—is evident. Nigerians and residents alike can attest to the visible transformation.”
Wike highlighted that under Tinubu’s leadership, the FCT has overcome financial bottlenecks by exiting the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system—an initiative he said had previously hindered development in the capital.
“Before now, FCT couldn’t access funds for development,” he explained. “President Tinubu’s intervention in removing the FCT from the TSA has allowed for a surge in infrastructure projects.”
The minister further revealed that within just three weeks of rehabilitating the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the facility has already generated over ₦700 million, compared to the ₦50 million annually remitted under its previous management.
“This shows the difference proper governance makes. We shut down what had become an embarrassment, revamped it, and now it’s yielding revenue in real time.”
Wike did not hold back in criticising members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition figures, accusing them of hypocrisy and self-serving motives under the guise of “rescuing Nigeria.”
“Those who now shout about rescuing Nigeria had several years in office but failed to deliver. Why didn’t they rescue Nigeria when they had the opportunity?”
He also warned religious institutions to be cautious in aligning with political propaganda, noting that blind support based on sentiment could have jeopardised national progress in the 2023 elections.
“The church almost made a critical mistake in 2023. Ask questions. Don’t let propaganda mislead you. We are politicians; you must scrutinise our claims.”
Addressing past insecurity, Wike recalled the attacks on Kaduna-bound trains and other national issues that occurred prior to Tinubu’s tenure.
“When the nation was experiencing major security lapses, it wasn’t under Tinubu’s leadership. Yet, those who presided over those failures now claim to be the solution.”
Wike acknowledged the challenges still facing Nigeria but emphasized that rebuilding a country in distress takes more than prayers—it requires decisive action and a willingness to make tough choices.
“This is not miracle work. It’s not about shouting ‘in the name of God.’ It’s about deliberate policies and political will—and President Tinubu is showing both.”
Concluding, Wike said that while Abuja is not yet where it ought to be, the Tinubu administration is taking bold and necessary steps to restore the capital to global standards.
“We’re not saying we’ve completed the transformation of Abuja, but the groundwork is clear. The results are beginning to show—and that’s what real leadership looks like.”
