President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he once jokingly threatened to sack the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, if his policies did not go in tandem with the political interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President made this known at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when Wike led a delegation of prominent FCT residents on a Sallah homage to mark the end of Ramadan fasting and Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
Tinubu said Wike approached him with a request to remove the FCT from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to allow for greater financial flexibility and infrastructure development.
“I remember the day Nyesom Wike came to me and said, ‘Please, take us out of this problem of Treasury Single Account (TSA) so that I can do more work and achieve more,'” Tinubu noted.
He further recalled how he challenged Wike on the potential political implications of his policies.
“And he presented it, and I threw in my own political guide: ‘Would that give me any opportunity for my party (APC) to win the election in FCT?'”
“I said, ‘I know where you are coming from, your own party (PDP) or my party. If this thing goes too much in your own favour, you will lose your job.’ Then he said, ‘Okay, we settle that, Oga.’”
President Tinubu praised Wike for executing policies that have transformed the FCT, particularly in infrastructure, health, and education.
“He came up with a lot of good ideas to liberate the bureaucracy, bring forward-looking, progressive thinking to the administration, and provide opportunities for many who would have been hindered by property rights,” he noted.
According to the President, Wike’s ideas have resulted in : The revitalization of the Vice-President’s residence, which had been abandoned for years. Rehabilitation of health centers and improvement of health services for FCT residents. Upgrading of school infrastructure and teacher welfare programs.
“Thank you, Wike,” Tinubu concluded, acknowledging the minister’s efforts.
The President’s statements bring up the nexus between governance and political strategy, underscoring the need for policy alignment with party interests.
While Wike, a prominent People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member, has always argued that his focus is on FCT development, his synergy with the APC-led administration continues to ignite controversies debate within opposition circles.
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