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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has clarified the reasons behind his absence at the recent Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa, dismissing reports claiming he boycotted it due to his preferred candidate being overlooked for the INEC Chairmanship.
Speaking during the commissioning of access roads in Sector Centre B, Dakibiyu District, Abuja, on Tuesday, the minister explained that he had prior engagements already scheduled and had delegated the responsibility to the Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud.
“Sometime last week, Thursday, we had a flag off, and I told the Minister of State, FCT, to represent me at the Council of State meeting,” Wike said. “I had already told Mr President that I would not be available because of other engagements we have already put in place. So, the Honourable Minister of State represented the FCT in that meeting.”
He described the rumours and reports alleging he boycotted the meeting because his nominee for INEC Chairman was ignored as “unnecessary propaganda and blackmail.” Wike urged Nigerians to be cautious of such narratives: “We have to be careful when people carry unnecessary propaganda and blackmail. But in spite of those things, be focused; you will achieve your results. They said I did not attend because I was not happy that my own nominee was not taken.”
Addressing the speculations that he had reached out to other Heads of State to boycott the meeting and pushed for a different nominee, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, Wike firmly asserted his loyalty to President Tinubu. “I work for Mr President. Mr President’s judgment, as far as I’m concerned, in this country has always been how to put this country in the right perspective,” he said. “Be focused. When you start delivering, the achievement will silence all critics. Today they have nothing again to say.”
The Minister’s remarks came shortly after the Council of State meeting on October 9, 2025, where Joash Amupitan was nominated as INEC Chairman, pending Senate confirmation.
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Wike also took the occasion to highlight the tangible progress within the FCT under his watch, attributing the successes to the firm leadership of the President. “I have always said, when you have the right leadership, you can achieve the expected results. Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has shown the right leadership. People are talking about the achievements we have made. It is because we have the right leadership. When you have the right leadership, you get things right,” he noted.
Reflecting on the transformation in the Dakibiyu District, Wike recounted the challenges faced before their intervention: “I reconnect the day we came here when we were trying to identify where we are going to build the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. As we were coming, I told my national secretary that road was commissioned, like the year said, 1st of July 2025, the second year anniversary that Mr President had.”
He pointed out that previously unpassable roads to key institutions such as the Police Service Commission and the Code of Conduct Tribunal had now been completed. “By the support of His Excellency Mr President, by his leadership, it is now a thing of the past because all the roads here have been completed.”
Wike praised the cooperative working relationship with the Minister of State, FCT, Mahmoud, acknowledging the importance of teamwork in delivering results. “I’m happy that I have a Minister of State who has been very supportive. It is not easy to have two ministers that work so closely and cooperatively. Without working together, you cannot achieve anything. So, Honourable Minister of State, I want to commend you and thank you for the support.”
Looking forward, the Minister promised continued development projects in the FCT, including the imminent inauguration of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal by President Tinubu. “In the next few months, we will be here again. Look at the Court of Appeal Division. It will soon be inaugurated by Mr President,” he said.
Wike concluded with a call for Nigerians to acknowledge the progress being made despite political differences. “As far as FCT is concerned, no matter how you may hate anybody, no matter how you felt as you lost the election, somebody has to win. There is no GG in elections. Somebody will win, the other person will lose. So, even if you hate Mr President, can you deceive yourself to the point that you will say nothing is going on in FCT? Certainly not. So, from there you will now know what Mr President is also doing in other areas. But this is where we are and see how we come every day, either to flag off or to commission. And that is what Dividends of Democracy is all about.”
