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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on his political rival and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, declaring that anyone who once shut down courts should not be considered fit to become Nigeria’s Vice President.
Wike also accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of abandoning its traditional role as a defender of the rule of law and taking partisan political positions.
Speaking during his September monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, the minister also paid an emotional tribute to his late political ally, Chief Dan Orbih, describing his death as a devastating personal loss from which he was unsure he would recover.
“Dan Orbih’s death is a big shock to me. I am not sure if I can recover from his death,” Wike said.
He described the late Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain as a dependable ally and a man of uncommon courage.
“Dan Orbih was a trusted ally. He was a firm man even under pressure,” the FCT Minister said.
The media chat, however, soon turned combative as Wike took aim at Amaechi, his longtime political adversary in Rivers State.
“Rotimi Amaechi, who wants to be Vice President today, once shut down the courts in Rivers State and caused a pregnant woman to give birth in prison,” Wike said.
The minister argued that Nigerians must carefully scrutinise the records of those seeking leadership positions, particularly those claiming to stand for democracy and the rule of law.
He also criticised the NBA, accusing the umbrella body of lawyers of becoming politically partisan.
“The Nigerian Bar Association has now taken sides politically. They are now a political party,” he declared.
Wike said the NBA, as an institution expected to champion the rule of law, should not become an arena for political contests or provide platforms that could be interpreted as partisan political endorsements.
On the recent flooding in parts of Abuja, Wike attributed the situation to a combination of years of illegal construction on waterways and the effects of climate change, disclosing that the FCT Administration had suspended a director in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) over the alleged illegal approval of buildings on waterways.
“The floods in Abuja today are a result of people building on waterways in Abuja illegally over the years. Climate change is also responsible for the flooding being experienced recently in Abuja,” he said.
“We suspended a director in the FCDA who was illegally giving building approvals to build on waterways.”
On infrastructure development, Wike gave an assurance that every project awarded under the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the FCT would be completed before the end of the administration in May 2027.
“Every project awarded in the FCT by President Tinubu administration will be completed before 29th May 2027,” he declared.
He said the FCT Administration had made significant progress in completing projects inherited from previous administrations.
According to him, of the 25 projects inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, 23 had been completed, while two were still ongoing.
“We inherited 25 projects from President Buhari, and we have completed 23, with two currently ongoing,” Wike said.
He also said the administration inherited eight projects from the administrations of former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, adding that six had been completed while two remained under construction.
“We inherited eight projects from President Jonathan and Yar’Adua. We have completed six, with two still ongoing,” he said.
Wike maintained that no project awarded under the Tinubu administration would be abandoned, insisting that those currently under execution would be delivered before the May 29, 2027 deadline.
He challenged critics to compare the volume of projects awarded and completed under the current FCT Administration with those of previous administrations since 1999, saying his administration was prepared to be held accountable for its promises.
On the recent flooding in parts of Abuja, Wike blamed a combination of years of illegal construction on waterways and the effects of climate change, saying the FCT Administration had suspended a director in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for allegedly granting illegal approvals for buildings on waterways.
“The floods in Abuja today are a result of people building on waterways illegally over the years, while climate change is also responsible for the flooding being experienced recently in Abuja,” he said, adding: “We suspended a director in the FCDA who was illegally giving building approvals to build on waterways.”
