By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike has cleared the air over the news going round concerning his absence at the last Council of State meeting presided by President Bola Tinubu last week.
Some online reports had claimed that the Minister boycotted the meeting because his preferred person for the chairmanship position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to scale through.
But, on Tuesday, while commissioning an access road in Sector B within Daki Biyu District of Abuja, Barr. Wike disclosed that prior engagements he had for the day kept him away having informed the appropriate authority. And that he had to ask the Minister of State, FCT, to represent him.
He distanced himself from those who said he purposely boycotted the meeting, stressing that he works for President Bola Tinubu and trusts the president’s judgement.
According to him: “Sometimes last week Thursday, we had a flag off, and I told the Minister of State, FCT, to represent me at the Council of State meeting. I had already told Mr. President that I would not be available because of other engagements we have already put in place. So, the Honourable Minister of State represented the FCT in that meeting.
“We have to be careful, when people carry unnecessary propaganda and blackmail. In spite of those things, be focused and you will achieve your results. They said I did not attend because I was not happy that my own nominee was not there. I work for Mr. President. Mr. President’s judgment as far as I’m concerned in this country has always been how to put this country in the right perspective. But I told people not to bother. Be focused. When you start delivering, the achievement will silence all critics.”
The Minister while appraising the transformation of landscape of Daki Biyu District, mentioned the completion of roads and infrastructure projects including the upcoming inauguration of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal in the area.
“I reconnect the day we came here when we were trying to identify where we are going to build the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. As we were coming, I told my national secretary, that road was commissioned, 1st of July 2025, the second year anniversary that Mr. President had.
“Here you have the Police Service Commission, here you have the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and all of our federal agencies. All the roads here were unpassable. And then I said, how are we going to sight the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal? I thank God today, by the support of His Excellency Mr. President, by his leadership, it is now a thing of the past because all the roads here have all been completed,” he said.
He praised President Tinubu’s leadership, attributing the achievements to his vision and guidance.
” I have always said, when you have the right leadership, you can achieve the expected results. Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has shown the right leadership. And that is why we are able to achieve. People are talking about the achievements we have made, it is because of the right leadership. When you have the right leadership, you get things right and you get things going.”
Wike thanked the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud for her support and harmonious working relationship between them.
“I’m happy that I have a Minister of State who has been very supportive. It is not easy. It is not easy to have two ministers that work so closely and cooperatively. I was a Minister of State and I knew what happened in other ministries. Without working together, you cannot achieve anything. So, Honorable Minister of State, I want to commend you and thank you for the support,” he added.
