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• Says Obi will flee to Cameroon rather than confront Nigeria’s problems
• Lokpobiri: Even Wike’s critics cannot deny Abuja’s transformation
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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the scale of infrastructure development under President Bola Tinubu’s administration will make it difficult for opposition parties to defeat him in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike said the administration’s record of visible projects across the country, particularly in Abuja, provided sufficient evidence of its performance, which the opposition would find difficult to counter.
He spoke on Tuesday after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT, including bridges on the Interchange Southern Expressway (ISEX) 2, linking Area 1 Roundabout to Games Village; the Southern Parkway, connecting Oladipo Diya Road with Ring Road II; and Arterial Road S1, linking Ring Road II to the FCT Fire Service Station in the Kaura and Gaduwa districts.
The minister, who described the projects as part of the administration’s campaign achievements, said residents of Abuja could not ignore the scale of infrastructure being delivered under Tinubu.
“So you can see clearly that it would be difficult to unseat the President today because the report card is obvious in terms of what he has done.
“Like I told you, this is our campaign. People ask what we are going to campaign with, but we have so many visible achievements all around us.
“There is no way residents of Abuja will see the kind of infrastructure we have provided and say they are not happy with the achievements of Mr President. It is second to none,” he said.
Wike said the pace of construction, particularly on the Southern Parkway, demonstrated the administration’s commitment to delivering projects within record time.
“Within six to seven months, you can see what has been achieved. It is unimaginable, and that is why we are very happy,” he added.
He disclosed that the FCT Administration was working towards commissioning at least 10 major projects before the 2027 general elections.
In a separate political remark, Wike took a fresh swipe at the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, alleging that the former Anambra State governor would flee to Cameroon rather than confront Nigeria’s challenges if elected president.
The minister made the allegation at the Abaji Area Council Rainbow Coalition and Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abuja, where he urged residents of the FCT to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He contrasted Obi with Tinubu, whom he praised for taking difficult decisions and confronting the country’s challenges, arguing that the presidency required courage and the willingness to take responsibility.
Wike said Nigeria needed a leader who would confront difficult situations rather than abandon the country when problems arose.
He also challenged political leaders in Abaji to translate their declarations of support for Tinubu into votes at their respective polling units and wards.
“Let me repeat what I said yesterday. To the people of Abaji, through their chairman, councillors and leaders, you come from different wards. You have told me you will vote for Tinubu. I have no problem with that. I want to see it,” he said.
The minister said the FCT must surpass Rivers State in electoral performance for Tinubu in 2027, insisting that he would deploy the same political mobilisation strategy in Abuja.
“Nobody is competing with Rivers. I don’t know what you all think. The only people who are going to compete with Rivers are the FCT. Whatever I will do there, I will do it here. So make sure you beat Rivers,” Wike said.
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He urged traditional rulers, political leaders, women and youths to mobilise voters across the six area councils to ensure Tinubu secured support in every polling unit and ward.
Wike also criticised residents for allegedly electing representatives in 2023 who had failed to maintain contact with their constituents or address their concerns.
“You went and elected somebody you don’t know. Is it not correct? Have you seen the person again? Has he come to address you? Has he asked you what your problems are? Has he moved anything that will affect the interest of the FCT?” he asked.
He urged residents to assess political office holders based on their accessibility, performance and contributions to community development rather than political promises.
The minister further disclosed that he would meet with FCT youths to discuss political mobilisation and their participation in the 2027 elections.
On the electricity challenge confronting Abaji, Wike reiterated his determination to ensure that the problem was addressed before the 2027 elections, directing the area council chairman to intensify efforts towards restoring power supply.
Describing the Abaji engagement as the final meeting in his tour of the six FCT area councils, he said he would return to assess residents’ satisfaction with the progress made.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has described the pace of infrastructure development in Abuja as unprecedented, saying even Wike’s fiercest critics cannot deny that he has changed the landscape of the territory.
Lokpobiri, who joined Wike on the inspection of the ongoing projects, said he had lived in Abuja for about 19 years and had not witnessed the level of development currently taking place in the nation’s capital.
“I have been in Abuja for about 19 years now. I came to Abuja in 2007, when I was elected senator, and I have been here, and the level of development we have seen in Abuja is unprecedented.
“Those of you who are journalists in Abuja can attest to the fact that even if you don’t like the FCT minister, you will give it to him that he will do the infrastructure, that even you too will benefit from,” he said.
The former senator said he was particularly surprised by the progress on the bridges and roads, considering that some of the projects were flagged off only in July.
“I never believed in my wildest dream that the roads that were flagged off in July, and we have already seen the level of completion,” he said.
He expressed further surprise that construction had been progressing on a bridge barely two kilometres from his residence at the National Assembly quarters in Apo without his knowledge.
“This morning when I had the privilege of joining him to go around these projects, I was wondering, I said, when did this bridge start?
“Because I stay in the National Assembly quarters in Apo that is just about maybe two kilometres away, and I never knew that this project was going on. I never even knew that this road is going on,” he said.
Lokpobiri congratulated Wike and Tinubu, crediting the President with providing the support necessary for the FCT minister to deliver on the projects.
“I want to tell Nigerians that, look, when somebody is performing, you need to encourage the person. That is the least that you can do.
“Even if you don’t like him, you will give it to him that he has changed the landscape of Abuja, and it can only get better and better,” he added.
