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…As aide labels Ugochinyere “political Hushpuppi” amid PDP tensions
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Despite facing criticism from various quarters, including legal experts who raised concerns about potential bias, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has for the umpteenth time firmly defended the construction of judges’ quarters in Abuja, emphasised that the project aimed at improving judicial living conditions, received both presidential approval and backing from the National Assembly as part of a broader commitment to judicial welfare.
“Once you have a provisional approval to go ahead and the backing of the National Assembly, what’s my business with those who are criticising?” Wike asked while fielding questions from journalists who accompanied him on inspection of the extension of arterial road (N5) to Ring Road III and ancillary with other ongoing road projects and construction of houses for judges in Abuja.
Continuing, he said: “Who are those criticising? I don’t think of that; I am not bothered. These are people who, even when you give them the opportunity, cannot do anything. So, forget about those criticisms.
“If you have not done it, they are the ones that will complain that the environment in which our judges and justices are working is not conducive.
“Now we are trying to provide an environment that will make them work well. They are saying, Oh! And giving another reason. Don’t bother yourself; just move on and do your work.
“So, I’m not bothered about the so-called criticism. It does not exist where I am.”
In September, Wike announced the construction of 40 houses for judges in Abuja, a decision that ignited public outrage. The project will allocate 20 homes to judges of the FCT High Court, 10 to the Federal High Court, and 10 to the Court of Appeal, all located in the Katampe district.
According to the minister, as long as the job he was doing was impacting lives, creating jobs, he wouldl not be bothered by criticism.
He explained that contractors handling projects across the territory had engaged more youths, stressing: “Creation of employment is one of the priority areas of Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Creation of employment is a top priority. And employment is not necessarily when you are employed by the government, but when you create an opportunity where youths can find a place to work for their own living.
“Look at the number of youths working at the site. Look at all the roads we have gone to, and look at the number of people that are employed.
“So, I feel happy that at least we have been able to engage youths. Nothing can make you more comfortable when you see your youths engaged.
“You can imagine when these jobs are not there, what the number of youths will be doing by now?”
The minister stated that the appreciation from residents is an inspiration to work harder on various projects in the federal capital.
He commended contractors for their swift progress and high standards, saying, “I am impressed with the pace of the projects.”
He assured that the city would wear a different outlook entirely by the time the roads were finished.
Meanwhile, in a scathing statement, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to Federal Capital Territory, Minister Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, branded House of Representatives member, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, as a “political hushpuppi,” and accused him of exploiting the political landscape for personal gain.
His comment came in response to Ugochinyere’s allegations while featuring on Channels TV’s programmes, Politics Today on Friday.
Ugochinyere, had said that the FCT Minister and other G5 governors like Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) were determined to destroy the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Olayinka who said the lawmaker was produced by part of the aberrations in the PDP, advised him to “stop going about masturbating about anything Wike,” and face the reason for which he was elected into the House of Representatives so that his constituents would stop seeing him as a failure and consistently passing votes of no confidence against him.
He emphasised that Ugochinyere, who joined the PDP in 2022, lacks the credibility to lecture others on party loyalty. “If PDP had functioned properly, would a ‘political hushpuppi’ like Ugochinyere have gotten the party’s ticket while still in another party?” he questioned.
Olayinka further said: “This is one of the things you get when people who joined the PDP today are awarded the ticket of the party tomorrow morning. If not for the aberration in the PDP that produced a character like Ugochinyere, someone who only joined the party in 2022 won’t be the one to lecture us about who is loyal to the party and who’s not.
“If PDP had functioned properly, would a ‘political hushpuppi’ like Ugochinyere have gotten the party’s ticket while still in another party? Even till today, as a PDP Rep member, Ugochinyere is still holding on to his Action Peoples Party (APP), using it to cash-out in Rivers State.
“Therefore, we on this side are not bothered because we understand why Ugochinyere must now mount the podium and accuse Wike of playing childish and kindergarten politics. He must satisfy those feeding him from the resources of Rivers State.”
