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The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike has once again been mentioned in what seems like a phenomenal discourse. This time, the narrative stems from an altruistically motivated source, which arguably has no direct link with the political bias of Wike and his political kinfolk.
Rising from the 11th Converge of the National Working Committee of South-South and South-East Assembly, the social political assembly, having carried out an in-depth analysis of the FCT minister’s performances, his continuous and courageous representation of the South-South and South-East, and the conscious actions towards erecting a true federal character mechanism within the FEC and FCT; the assembly resolved on a vote of confidence on Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike.
The President General and Chairman of the national working committee, Dr. Barthelomew Aguugo, reminds critics that if for no reason, the FCT Minister since August 2023 has focused on accelerating infrastructural projects, improving road networks, and enhancing urban sanitation and security in the FCT, adding that the administration’s renewed focus on urban planning and infrastructure has been credited with attracting investors and stimulating economic growth as well as pledging to increase attention to the security of the nation”s capital, through specific actions for 2025 and beyond.
Speaking further, Dr Aguugo told newsmen that, the group is particularly not pleased about the fact that political and opinion leaders within the south fail to encourage the minister for his audacious gait towards doing the regions proud, but rather, take to making baseless criticisms towards him.
In his words, the PG avers “for the necessity it owes, the agenda, which arose as an AoB eventually became the major take-home of the converge. Hon. Chidiebere Concord Yakubu had raised the matter as a personal concern on the eve of our convergence, but then, we saw its significance and hinged on it. I must be frank with you; as a human being, Barrister Nyesom Wike has his imperfections, just like you and I, but it is not enough to pay oversight to such a great job that he is doing for us. Sometimes I wonder why the unwarranted odium toward the minister. It is either we are politically naïve and insensitive to the benefits of the social and environmental structure that the Honourable ministers is erecting, especially for those of us from the south. Go back to your statistics and find out how many people from the south, in the past, could boast of enjoying equal opportunities with our northern brothers in the FCT. But now, it is happening; because the Hon. Minister understands the true essence of the FCT. We do hope that nobody misunderstands this. But the truth remains that what Wike is doing, is reinstalling our federal character for the good of all. If Nigeria must ever behold its inherent beauties, we must first talk of reinstating our lost unity. And we believe that the FCT minister has set the process in motion. Anybody may say we are jumping to a conclusion, but we are equally sure of landing on a proper footing. Why did I say so? Because the South-South and South-East Assembly is too rich in human resources and too empowered by data to make baseless statements”.
In an attempt to underscore his points, the PG highlighted the federal character principle, which was enshrined in the 1979 Nigerian Constitution to ensure that appointments to public institutions reflect the country’s linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity; and how successive administrations and FCT ministers who should serve as great custodians of the principle seldom looked in the direction.
Meanwhile, Hon. Chidiebere Concord, who is the Director of communication of the group expressed his concern to newsmen about the unwarranted insults and baseless criticisms recently meted out on the FCT minister by some Nigerians, calling on all well-meaning citizens of the South-South and South-East regions to rise in condemnation of the act.
Hon. Concord added that it is illogical to watch such a political bigwig from the south-south being insulted publicly without having stakeholders from the region speaking out to condemn it. He advised those in the act to reconsider their actions or have the assembly to contend with.
The NWC urge Nigerians to expect a communiqué on the subject matter soon. It was also leant by our reporter that a six-man committee was set up with the terms of reference to immediately review issues surrounding the role played by Wike, the benefits, the need to ganner support for him; as well as gather ample data and come up with a detailed document to be submitted to the Eleven Governors of the South-South and South-East, through the state Executive councils of the assembly. The core essence of the communiqué remains undisclosed by the President General and his Eighteen-man National Working Committee.
Our reporter gathered that the core aim of the group is to unify the support-base of South-south and South-east regions in politics, national dialogue, representation, etc.
