Call for Wike’s sack uncalled for

From Idu Jude, Abuja

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya, has appealed to those calling for the sack of the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, after an incident with a soldier in Abuja to weigh their options carefully.

He cautioned that these people have forgotten too soon the other side of the man who has done well to transform Nigeria’s capital city within a few years of his appointment.

Hon. Ajiya stated exclusively to The Sun that the incident that took place between the minister and the military personnel can be handled amicably without calls for his sack by fellow cabinet ministers from the Ministry of Defence.

He highlighted that any passionate and dedicated public servant could have acted similarly to ensure that certain orders are carried out without sacred cows.

“We all can bear witness to how the minister does his job, which earned him the title ‘Mr Project’; it is all about the passion for the job. It is all about dedication to duty. We have seen many who operated from their offices for eight years without any tangible work done.

“Nigerians should not behave like the Jews who wanted Jesus crucified a few hours after they shouted ‘Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna’ at the top of their voices. This is the same Wike we praised for the dogged work he has done, contrary to his predecessors.”

He, however, suggested that issues relating to illegal occupation of government lands should be handled seriously to avoid incidents like this. “We should not have sacred cows in our system. Then we will be able to handle all cases equally. And if what the minister said is true, then we should as well handle it well, otherwise many others will toe the same corrupt way of obtaining properties.”

Meanwhile, Hon. Ajiya has called on the Presidency and the APC party hierarchy to wade in and stop the Ministers of Defence who have declared war against the FCT Minister.

He insisted that the problem, if not solved properly and urgently, may bring about infighting and division among the cabinet ministers. “I think that Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should as a matter of urgency caution his ministers from attacking each other and that if anybody has observations to make, they must pass through the Presidency, and they should not wash their dirty linen in public. And this is not good for the ruling party,” he said.