*’We’ll Complete All Projects Before Tinubu’s First Term Ends’
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will not remain passive and allow former Vice President (VP) Atiku Abubakar win the 2027 presidential poll, as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the general elections.
He also said former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who is the ex-VP’s running mate in the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket for the election, lacked the capacity to rule Nigeria.
Wike, who spoke today (Wednesday) during his monthly media parley in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, also dismissed reports that he was planning to relocate to his home Rivers State, explaining that his frequent visits there were part of efforts to remain politically engaged with his people.
Wike has been in a protracted political dispute with both Abubakar, popularly known as Atiku, and Amaechi.
Atiku belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where Wike is still a member, but quit the party following a series of widely publicized implosions which rocked the former federally-ruling party, upheavals which his supporters linked to Wike. The Minister has repeatedly denied the claim, rather pointing the fingers back at Atiku.
“You want me to fold my hand for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?” Wike asked.
The Minister said he had no intention of abandoning his responsibilities in Abuja, but would continue to maintain close contact with political developments in Rivers State, where he was Governor until 2023.
“It’s not about relocating; it’s about coming home to relate with the people and talk to them, and also do those things you know how to do very well, not to take chances.
“So, I’m not relocating. I don’t need to relocate, but I also have to be in touch with my people so that I don’t just sit in Abuja and then say that everything is going on there well,” he said.
According to him, he would not rely solely on assurances from political associates that all was well in Rivers State, particularly as the 2027 general elections approach.
“I don’t want to sit in Abuja and candidates are saying, ‘Oh, don’t bother, everything is going on well’. I have to come home and see that all those things are going on: ‘Have you done this? What about this’?’ Wike said.
Launching a blistering attack on his longtime political adversary and former Rivers State governor, Amaechi, Wike declared that anyone who once shut down courts was fundamentally unfit to serve as Nigeria’s VP.
Wike urged Nigerians to critically examine the past actions of political figures claiming to champion democracy and the rule of law before trusting them with high office.
“Rotimi Amaechi, who wants to be Vice President today, once shut down the courts in Rivers State and caused a pregnant woman to give birth in prison,” Wike said.
He argued that such precedents should automatically disqualify political aspirants from occupying sensitive executive positions, emphasising that a track record of undermining the judiciary cannot be brushed aside.
Wike further broadened his critique to target the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accusing the lawyers’ body of abandoning its historic role as an impartial defender of justice and constitutionalism in favor of partisan politics.
“The Nigerian Bar Association has now taken sides politically. They are now a political party,” Wike alleged.
He maintained that the association ought to remain an independent institution dedicated to upholding the rule of law, rather than serving as an arena for political contests or offering platforms that amount to partisan endorsements.
We’ll Complete All Projects Before Tinubu’s First Term Ends, Wike Assures
Meanwhile, Wike has assured that all capital projects initiated under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the nation’s capital will be completed before the end of the administration’s tenure.
Wike gave the assurance during the media chat, pointing out that the administration had recorded unprecedented progress in infrastructure development across the FCT.
The Minister said the Tinubu administration had commissioned 107 capital projects in the territory, adding that 76 of the projects had already been completed.
According to him, 10 additional projects are expected to be commissioned before the January elections, while the remaining projects would be completed before the expiration of the current administration.
“The President’s administration under Bola Tinubu commissioned 107 capital projects. We have completed 76. Before the January election, we will commission 10, and before the end of his tenure, we would have commissioned all the projects,” Wike said.
He said the FCT Administration (FCTA) had also made significant progress in completing projects inherited from previous administrations.
According to Wike, of the 25 projects inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, 23 had been completed, while two were ongoing.
He added that six out of eight projects inherited from the administrations of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had also been completed, with work continuing on the remaining two.
“We inherited 25 projects from President Buhari and completed 23, while two are currently ongoing.
“We inherited eight projects from the administrations of President Jonathan and President Yar’Adua. We have completed six, while two are ongoing,” he said.
Wike said the Tinubu administration remained committed to ensuring that projects initiated under the Renewed Hope Agenda in the FCT were completed within the President’s tenure.
“Before this tenure expires, every project started under Bola Tinubu would have been completed,” he said.
The Minister challenged critics to compare the performance of the current administration in the FCT with that of previous administrations, insisting that the territory had witnessed unprecedented development under Tinubu.
“In the history of the FCT, no government has done what we have done in Abuja. I challenge anyone to come out,” Wike stated.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Wike.
