BY OBINNA F. NWACHUKWU and DAVID ADUGE-ANI
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON, has dismissed the recent coalition movement by opposition political parties, asserting that their agenda was driven by selfish ambition rather than a genuine desire to rescue Nigeria.
Speaking at a Thanksgiving service in Abuja on Sunday, to celebrate the successful completion of projects commissioned in the FCT by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to mark the President’s second year in office, Wike challenged the coalition promoters to show the nation what they achieved when they were in office.
He particularly took a swipe at former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Governor of Anambra State Mr. Peter Obi, former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and former Senate President, Senator David Mark, all of whom he accused of ignoring Nigerians and their people when they were in office.
“They want to rescue their stomach, not Nigeria,” Wike declared, debunking claims that the opposition aims to save the nation.
The Minister accused Atiku of jumping from one political party to the other; Peter Obi of not conducting local government elections during his tenure as Anambra state governor; David Mark of ignoring the deplorable condition of the Otukpo-Makurdi road despite being Senate president for eight years and former Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola of frustrating efforts by Nigerians to get their international passport which he said has now been streamlined by the current administration. He also accused former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi of putting Nigerians in huge financial debt during his tenure as Minister, Amaechi as Transportation Minister borrowed with the future of Nigerians,” Wike alleged.
“How can Nigerians not be angry with you? In 1999, you were in another party, in 2006, you moved to another party, in 2014, you moved to another party. In 2019, you moved back to another party.
“Now, in 2025, you are moving to another party to rescue who? You want to rescue your stomach. It’s not Nigeria you want to rescue. So, let us tell ourselves the simple truth,” the minister queried.
Wike highlighted what he described as the ‘opposition’s hypocrisy’, noting their silence on national issues when they held power.
“People had the opportunity to be in government for several years; people had the opportunity to bring infrastructure to their States; they didn’t do it. At that time, Nigerians were not angry.
“It is now that they are not in office that Nigerians are angry”, he observed. He cited examples such as the bombing of trains during previous administrations and the accumulation of national debt without commensurate development.
He reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment to good governance, citing positive changes already brought about by the coming into office of the current federal government, including the transparent handling of oil subsidy removal, which he said had significantly increased monthly allocations to states.
Urging Nigerians to be discerning, the Minister appealed to the church to continue to pray for President Tinubu and his cabinet, emphasizing that overcoming years of national challenges required patience and bold decisions. He expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to contribute to national growth, acknowledging the competent team assembled under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“All I plead to the church is just to be patient and continue to pray for Mr. President and for the FCT administration. Forget about people who have lost their chances to put Nigeria right. They won’t have the chance again.”
Wike also thanked God for divine enablement in infrastructural development and policy reforms that have transformed the city of Abuja and the lives of its residents.
He noted that returning thanks to God became necessary, adding that he would not have been able to execute all those projects without God’s divine grace and the people God placed around him.
The minister particularly recognized the support of President Bola Tinubu in approving funds for him to execute the projects, even as he promised to execute more projects in the FCT.
“Throughout the 16 days of commissioning, no problem, no accident, no loss of life. It is not easy. We are contributing our quota, and we will continue to do more.
“We have a government that is determined to make changes. President Tinubu is committed to making changes. That is why he is giving us all the approvals,” he said.
He stated that Abuja, the nation’s capital, is not yet completely changed, but added that the necessary steps are being taken to put Abuja where it is supposed to be.
“We cannot say we have completely changed Abuja. But you can see that the processes and the steps being taken to put Abuja where it’s supposed to be.
“Like I said before, all these areas, the roads, they were here. You had them in the worst manner. But today, it is a different thing.
“I assure you that in the next one year, you will see what will happen in Abuja. All these things are because the president is committed,” the minister assured.
He listed some of the major reforms within the FCT under President Tinubu’s leadership, such as the appointment of dedicated workers as Permanent Secretaries, the withdrawal of the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to boost infrastructure funding, and the successful rehabilitation of the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, which has led to an increase in revenue for the FCTA.
According to him, the FCTA has never had a permanent secretary before, but the President made that possible and with that development, every civil servant in the FCTA can aspire to the position of permanent secretary.
“People easily forget. The FCT has never had permanent secretaries. Never! Permanent secretary of FCT is always posted from the federal civil service.
“But as soon as Mr. President came in, he said, you can’t block people’s growth. People who get to the director level, they retire, they will not get to the permanent secretary level. But today, by the grace of God, all the civil servants in the FCT can say that yes, I’m likely to go to the level of permanent secretary.
“Today, FCT has its own head of service, who of course is a woman and from FCT. All these are things people should thank Mr. President.
“Before now, it was difficult for FCT to access funds. Mr. President in his wisdom, made sure that we were pulled out of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) that has been stagnating the development of the FCT. Today, we can see the projects because we are no longer operating under the TSA.
“All these were done because Mr. President believes that we should be on our own, to have access to commercial banks, and then be able to pay back to them,” the minister said.
Earlier in his Sermon, the Archdeacon and Vicar of Saint James Anglican Church, Asokoro, Venerable Ben Idume, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Wike as the FCT Minister, describing the president as a visionary leader. He commended Wike for making the current administration proud.
The vicar prayed for continuous guidance, direction, wisdom, understanding, and divine preservation for Wike, so that he may continue the good work that has yielded positive results in the territory.
He lauded the Minister’s performance, stating, “I thank God that your appointment was sustained and you have proved those that doubted your capacity wrong”. He prayed God to continue to guide and protect the minister.
While urging Wike to stay focused, pray more, and remain connected to God, Venerable Idume described him as a child of destiny, shining the light of God. He also urged Nigerians to continue praying for Nigeria and its leaders.
The Saint James Anglican Church, Asokoro, also honoured Wike with an excellent award as an “Ambassador of Christ” in recognition of his excellent performance in infrastructural development in the FCT.
Present at the Thanksgiving service were the governor of Edo state, Senator Monday Okpobholo, and his deputy; former governors of Benue state, Senator Samuel Ortom, Enugu State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Abia State Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
Other dignitaries present include, Senators Magnus Abe, Mao Ohuabunwa, Philip Aduda, Baripidi, Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amewhuele, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud; Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, Senator David Jimkuta; Head of Service FCT, Chairman, FCT Civil Service Commission, Mandate Secretaries; Chairmen of FCT Area Councils, top federal civil servants, politicians and members of the clergy and laity of the Anglican Church.