*Political Analysts Say Chilly Details Of Possible Malfeasance, Some, Perhaps, Of Financial Nature, May Be Uncovered By The Outspoken Minister
*Inspects Major Ongoing Projects
From Felix Durumbah, Abuja
Nigerians have been put on notice to expect shocking revelations on why Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) members are ‘fighting’ Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, over the latter’s so-called Rainbow Coalition, a special purpose vehicle he put together ostensibly to, among others, help propel his boss, President Bola Tinubu, back to Aso Rock in 2027.
PGF is the umbrella body of All Progressives Congress (APC) State Governors.
Wike, a member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and immediate past Governor of oil-rich Rivers State on the PDP ticket, has, since 2023 when Tinubu, elected on APC platform, came to power, been serving as Minister.
Having to balance the pressures and demands from both political perspectives has, on a number of occasions, seen Wike pitched in vicious battles with bigwigs of the APC even as he continued to profess his focused, sole loyalty to President Tinubu, and not to APC.
For instance, last Monday, Chairman of PGF, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, fired a loud salvo, saying the Coalition is a threat to President Tinubu’s re-election, with the development sparking controversy even as the matter split the APC membership nationwide into camps of pro- and anti-Wike.
Uzodimma spoke against the backdrop of the continuing massing into the Coalition of angry APC members edged out by Governors and the party’s state-level machinery during the primaries to choose candidates for different elective positions in the 2027 general elections.
But, today, the Minister vowed to spill the beans and lift the lid on the real reason the APC Governors are up in arms against him.
Political analysts say chilly details of possible malfeasance, some, perhaps, of a financial nature, may be uncovered by the outspoken Minister.
Speaking to newsmen during an assessment tour of ongoing infrastructural development projects in FCT, Wike dismissed accusations that the Coalition was designed to destabilize the APC or undermine President Tinubu’s political standing.
Emphasizing that his primary objective remains ensuring the President’s successful reelection, Wike unfurled plans to address the nation during a scheduled television broadcast to expose the true motives behind the pushback against the Coalition.
“My concern is how the President will be re-elected for a second tenure and I have made that known from the outset that I was going to support Mr. President with all my might and strength.
“I’m not bothered about the accusations. But this is very, very disappointing to hear some people say the Rainbow Coalition will destabilize the party. I don’t understand from which angle that would be.
“Just hear me very well today: This is an opportunity for all Nigerians to tune in and we will let Nigerians know what is really behind all these so-called cries about Rainbow Coalition.
“It is not correct. We have not gone to anybody to say, ‘don’t support Tinubu’. We said all our party members, all those like-minds who are not APC members, should please ensure that they support Mr. President. And this is not the first time.
“First of all, in 2023 when it was G5, why is it that nobody complained that it will destabilize the party? Did the President not win? Did it affect APC controlling the National Assembly? We will let the cat out of the bag so that Nigerians will be well informed,” he threatened.
Rebuffing further allegations by the PGF that the Rainbow Coalition serves as a personal political vehicle to position him ahead of the 2031 presidential election, the Minister characterized such claims as premature and driven by political anxiety.
He stressed that national politics must be guided by practical realities rather than speculative long-term calculations.
“People take the position of God. First of all, you have to pray that you are alive. You must have to say God, ‘keep me alive till the next day’. When God keeps you alive, then you now know what to do.
“How can you sit now and you start planning about 2031? First of all, you should know that I ran for presidency in 2022, and I came second. If not for what happened, I would have emerged. So, I know this country very well. I know the politics of this country. I know the conspiracy.
“Mind you, the President will also have interest in who will succeed him in 2031. So, will I be at loggerheads with what the President decides? They are just afraid of their shadows.
“God is the one who says what will be. In any case, what is wrong, assuming that I’m positioning myself? But that is not correct.
“You will hear the full details, why all these cries about Rainbow Coalition, and Nigerians will be shocked when they hear the full details”, the Minister said.
Dwells On Ongoing Projects
Turning to projects, Wike assured that major ongoing infrastructure projects across the nation’s capital will be completed and handed over by January 2027 –in four months’ time.
The Minister expressed optimism that all targeted developments will be delivered to residents well ahead of the upcoming general elections.
He evaluated the progress of work on the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) project, being executed by CGC Nigeria Limited, praising the contractor for the high quality of work and firm commitment to handing over the project by December 2026.
The Minister subsequently inspected the Southern Parkway project at Gaduwa—where construction work on a second bridge was underway following weather delays—and concluded at the Nile University axis leading to Ring Road 3, being handled by CCECC.
Speaking on the pace of work and contractor commitments across the sites, Wike expressed satisfaction that the projects remain firmly on track to fulfill the developmental pledges of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Wike said: “I’m very impressed. I came back yesterday and as usual, I have to go round to check the projects which were promised to residents of Abuja to be completed before the elections.
“We visited ISEX first and you can see the work going on, quality job they’ve done. I commend the contractor, CGC, who has repeatedly said that by December they are going to hand over that project.
“We moved to the Southern Parkway at Gaduwa where a second bridge is ongoing. And they have said that but for the heavy downpours, they would have started the earthworks. However, by the time the rain subsides, they will start earthwork to ensure that the project is completed before the elections on the 10th of January.
“And now we are here at Nile University Road that leads to Ring Road 3. I want to sincerely commend CCECC. The last time I came here I was really worried. But the management has also committed themselves that latest by the first week of January, they will have handed over the project. So, one feels very happy that we are on schedule.”
Addressing lingering concerns regarding ability of contractors to meet the tight December and January deadlines given the sheer scale of the engineering tasks, the Minister reaffirmed his confidence in the construction firms.
His words: “The last time I came, I was worried. But now, I’m a bit relieved and with their further commitment, you heard what CGC said and now CCECC has repeated that they will be on course. So, I trust them. This is not the first time. They have said that they will do everything possible to hand over this project as agreed.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: L-R: Deputy Managing Director, CGC, Lu Haiming; Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Richard Yunana Dauda; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; Senator Philip Aduda; and former Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Hon Victor Ihunwo, during the Minister’s inspection of ongoing construction of the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX), Abuja … today.
