Politics

Why I Work With Tinubu — Wike

Published

2 years ago

October 14, 2023

The Minister of the Federal Capita Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, has revealed why he decided to work with President Bola Tinubu in spite of, among other things, being in the opposition party.

Wike, a former two-term governor of Rivers State on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made the revelation at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

Wike said President Tinubu has the capacity and political will to take decisions and do things others are afraid of.

According to Wike, “One of the reasons I accepted to work with Mr. President is because he has the capacity and political will to do those things that people are afraid of doing.

“The problem of this country is partly leadership because so many people don’t want to take actions as they believe that some people will be angry.

“There is no action you take that everybody will be happy. But what is important is that you are guided by law and your conscience.”

He then went on to explain the reformations Tinubu has brought to the FCT’s civil service.

FCT Civil Service Commission
Wike said: “The Central bank (CBN) cannot give us loans, and even the IGR is spent as it comes and you cannot tangibly do anything with it.

“I said to Mr. President if you want FCT to really carry out its developmental projects and infrastructure, then it must come out of TSA (Treasury Single Account).

“We (FCT Administration) are not a revenue-generating agency of the Federal Government. Then what financial leakages are you plugging? The revenue comes in and it will go to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and we need money to do projects.

“I cannot go to the Central Bank to ask them to give us money, and I can’t go to the commercial banks. They will ask how do you pay back?

“So, I said we must pull out, that is the only way we can survive it.

“Mr. President graciously agreed with us and approved that we should pull out of the Single Treasury Account. TSA.

“You will see that from next year it will be projects upon projects in FCT. And with what you saw in Port Harcourt, Abuja would be something else. So for us, it is one of the happiest days, and we have to thank Mr. President for the foresight.”

He said for several years, a lot of issues in the FCT were stalled due to lack of political will to see then through.

Political will

The Minister of FCT said: “There is this fear that ‘if I do this, people will kick against it’.

“But it is not personal. It is about the growth of the city, welfare of the civil servants and the interest of the women – our mothers, sisters and wives.

“For many years this fight has been on. But in just few months, Mr. President has done it. That is the essence of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“Civil Servants in the FCTA were stagnated because they could only become directors and not rise to permanent secretaries.

“Before now, then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had, as Acting President, signed a law to create the FCT Civil Service Commission. But the law has never been implemented.

“So, I went to Mr President and explained why we had to implement it in his administration. And he has graciously approved the creation of the Commission.

“Mr President has also approved the creation of a secretariat for women.

“You can imagine having an administration as large as this and there is no secretariat for women.

“So, the President has approved the creation of a Mandate Secretariat for Women Affairs. It is just like we have the Ministry of Women Affairs in the states,” Wike stressed on his work with Tinubu.

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

5 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

5 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

5 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.