Justina SIMON,
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has promised N10m to every councillor who delivers his political ward to President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Wike announced the reward on Monday at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali Area Council, where he rallied support for Tinubu’s re-election bid and urged residents to reward the administration with electoral support.
“Any councillor that delivers his ward will get N10 million reward. Therefore, go and meet your leaders, go and meet your youth groups, go and consult with associations. Let’s deliver our ward to Mr President,” he said.
He also endorsed Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT Senate seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency, declaring that the APC would secure overwhelming support across the territory.
“I don’t need to preach to you any longer. The one you are seeing is what you follow, not the one that will give you unfulfilled promises. I will go to sleep tonight because I know Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Abaji are 100 per cent for APC,” Wike declared.
The minister said the Rainbow Coalition was mobilising support across party lines to secure victory for Tinubu and other APC candidates, urging residents to judge the administration by its performance.
He cited road construction projects across the FCT satellite towns, saying more than 270 kilometres of roads were being constructed, including 95 kilometres in Kwali.
According to him, the projects are nearing completion and would be inaugurated in December.
Wike also promised to look into the salaries of FCT councillors following an appeal by the Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Gambo Hamza, who said they receive N260,000 monthly.
The minister defended his administration’s decision to provide brand-new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to first-class traditional rulers in the FCT, dismissing criticism that the gesture amounted to political inducement or bribery.
He argued that traditional rulers deserved official recognition and the means to carry out their responsibilities.
“You want a first-class traditional ruler to be walking on the road with a stick in hand, taking public buses so they can get hit by a car one day? But you expect Chief Press Secretaries to Governors, Chairmen, and Presidents to ride SUVs?
“Instead of using their platforms to support good things, critics turn it upside down. We will provide for our traditional rulers, and nothing will come out of their complaints,” he said.
Wike also accused opposition parties and political figures of double standards over their reactions to judicial decisions, citing the Federal High Court ruling that nullified the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
He recalled that opposition figures had praised the judiciary when the ADC won a case at the Supreme Court but accused the President of using the courts against the opposition following an unfavourable ruling.
“When ADC had a matter in court and won at the Supreme Court, they said, ‘The court is the last hope,’ ‘The court has saved democracy,’ and ‘We know our judiciary will not fail us.’
“But when they lost a court case, it became: ‘The President is using the court to fight the opposition.’ When it is good for you, the judiciary is clear. When it is bad, you claim they are using it to destroy democracy. What kind of system are we operating?” Wike questioned.
He also listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and infrastructure projects among the administration’s achievements.
Wike said the FCT had suffered decades of political marginalisation, despite having an estimated population of six to seven million people, with only one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats.
“For 50 years, nobody could remember you. The President has changed the narrative, given you your own civil service, allowed you to employ your people, and elevated your traditional stools. You cannot afford to make a mistake in 2027,” he said.
The minister also praised the Rainbow Coalition for bringing political stakeholders together in support of what he described as the collective interests of FCT residents.
In his remarks, APC Chairman in the FCT, Ishaku Yamawo, commended Wike for uniting political stakeholders across party lines and promoting development in the territory.
His PDP counterpart, Mohammed Dogara, also praised the minister’s performance and pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Aliyu Baka, who spoke on behalf of Rainbow Coalition stakeholders in the FCT, expressed regret over what he described as their electoral mistakes in 2023, saying the group was prepared to secure victory for Tinubu and other candidates in 2027.
(The Whistler)