President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has jokingly cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against allowing the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to gain political dominance in Abuja. Addressing an Eid-el-Fitr delegation led by Wike at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Tinubu hinted that a PDP victory in the FCT could threaten Wike’s position, adding a lighthearted but politically significant warning.
Despite being a key PDP figure, Wike has been serving in Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, a role that has sparked political debates, especially given his ongoing feud with his successor in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The tensions escalated when Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Fubara on March 18, intensifying speculation about Wike’s standing within both the PDP and APC.
Meanwhile, Tinubu commended Wike for his transformative efforts in the FCT, including reviving abandoned projects, improving infrastructure, and enhancing governance. He lauded the minister’s reforms, particularly the establishment of an independent FCT Civil Service Commission, which has bolstered career progression for civil servants. In response, Wike expressed gratitude for the President’s backing and highlighted major policy changes under his leadership, including the removal of the FCT Administration from the Treasury Single Account and the creation of Mandate Secretariats for Women and Youths.
