…denies involvement in Governor Uzodinma’s disqualification and vows to Speak Out After Presidential Election
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has assured residents and stakeholders that the ongoing political activities in Rivers State and the FCT will not hamper his commitment to governance or slow down the pace of infrastructure development in the nation’s capital .
Addressing key issues during his monthly media parley on Thursday, the Minister demonstrated a comprehensive grasp of ongoing projects within the capital territory and emphasized that he was effectively monitoring the projects, amidst his ongoing political engagements.
“As I sit here, I can see all the projects in FCT. Many projects are almost completed. The ISEX (Inner Southern Expressway), where they are launching the bridge now, is almost completed, the Southern Parkway, which was flagged off by the National political leader of APC, is almost completed by this December. You go to the one by CCECC from Tungan Madaki to Zuba, it is almost completed. The road by Nile University is almost completed. The one done from Kubwa to Bwari by the SCC is also almost completed”, the Minister stated.
“So, while I’m doing my politics, my eyes are also on the projects. I don’t need to carry a camera, because I’m not the Minister of Works or the Governor of television to see. I’m doing the work, and the work is almost completed”, he added.
Speaking on the dispute involving the revocation of the University of Abuja land and threats by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FCT Chapter, to embark on strike if the revocation is not reversed, the Minister called for restraint, advising the union to refrain from matters outside its primary mandate.
The Minister clarified that he did not revoke the land in question but merely continued an administrative process initiated by his predecessor. He stressed that land administration falls strictly under the purview of the FCT Administration and noted that the matter is already before the courts.
“What is the business of ASUU about land? How do you claim that a university has over 30,000 hectares of land? I’m not intimidated by this blackmail. They have gone to court, and we said we will meet in court. Let the judiciary determine it; you cannot go to court and still be threatening to go on strike”, he remarked.
Responding to allegations by opposition figures that advertisement billboard fees in the FCT were arbitrarily hiked to discourage political opponents and favour the APC campaigns, Nyesom Wike dismissed the claims, clarifying that the revision of rates was a purely commercial decision aimed at maximizing revenue generation for infrastructure and education.
“It’s not correct to say that the fee was raised simply because it is you. We want money to do more roads and improve schools”, the Minister stated. He noted that politics is expensive all over the world and explained that billboard space in the FCT is also allocated on a first-come, first-served commercial basis.
Addressing political developments in Imo State, Wike denied any involvement in the judicial decisions affecting Governor Hope Uzodinma’s senatorial ambitions, describing attempts to link him to the outcome as mischievous. He reiterated his unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, stating that his primary political focus remains ensuring the President’s success in the 2027 presidential elections.
“Ordinarily I wouldn’t want to go into this, but anybody calling my name is being mischievous. I didn’t go to court, and I’m not in the APC. As it is today, my priority is to ensure that Mr. President emerges victorious in the 2027 presidential elections”, the Minister said.
Speaking on the opposition to the Rainbow coalition alignment in some states, the Minister stated that he would refrain from engaging in full-scale political declarations against uncooperative state governors until after the presidential elections, noting that everything has its own time.
According to him, “Today, I’m not talking because we want the presidential election to be over. By the time the presidential election is over, I will speak out. Everything has its own time”.
Speaking further, the Minister said, “Do I look like somebody you can threaten? You cannot ride on the back of the President simply because everybody is supporting the President. Even you that cannot write your name for example, we should support you?”
The FCT Minister also addressed the internal dynamics of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that recent Court of Appeal rulings dismissing parallel structures have affirmed the legally recognized leadership of the party. “They went to the Federal High Court and lost. They went to the Court of Appeal, they’ve lost and they were fined N5m each”, he said, and advised against further litigation. “There are things that you cannot continue to litigate”, the Minister stated.
However, he observed that internal issues have impacted the party’s current electoral standing, calling for strategic reflection moving forward “The PDP crisis affected us, the damage has been done, we need to go back and strategize and plan again for the future. It is not all parties that have flag bearers that really want to be President”, the Minister added.
Dismissing claims that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has been sidelined within the rainbow coalition political alignments, the FCT Minister noted that the Governor has been fully involved in the critical decision process, adding that Governor had also publicly endorsed the coalition’s candidate for the Rivers Governorship election. “For somebody to come out and publicly unveil the governorship candidate, yet you are saying he is not involved? ”, the Minister queried.
Speaking on Gov. Fubara’s political future and if he will be compensated with another political position, Wike emphasized that public political life is dynamic and that service to the public was not strictly tied to holding continuous office.
“Fubara is a young man whom God has blessed to be a Governor. As far as you are alive, you have hope”, the Minister added.
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