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Developers hail Wike on issuance of C of O

The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on his decision to set up a Task Force to facilitate the Issuance of Certificate of Occupancy in the FCT.

President of REDAN, Aliyu Wamakko, said the minister’s action will give economic value to Home Owners in the Mass Housing Estates in the FCT.

He also said the approach will ensure compliance with the FCT master plan.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Wamakko said: “REDAN is excited with the minister for inaugurating the Task Force with clear mandate and timeline for the actualization of the directive. This action is in sync with our calls to the Ministry before he assumed leadership. We are also attuned to his directives which charged the Task Force to ensure that allottees who have contravened land use in the FCT, pay penalties to serve as deterrence. This decision is applauded because it is more humane and a clear departure from decisions which results to economic waste by demolition of such buildings.”

Wammako, who doubles as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jedo Investment Company Limited, said: “Crucial to the clear directive of the minister is that the Task Force should make provisions for land allottees in the Area Councils who do not have certificates of occupancy for their plots to enable them to get the land documents. The minister’s directive in this regard will give economic life and development in the Area Councils.

Read Also: Shettima approves committee to pilot FG’s human capital development programme

“Fundamentally, it will sanitise land matters, and enhance accelerated housing and real estate development. We acknowledge the promise of the Chairman of the Task Force Michael Chinda to do the needful in a record time of one month.”

“While noting the above, the leadership of the association wishes to assure the Minister and the Task Force of our Members commitment and cooperation to ensure that the assignment is carried out seamlessly. Accordingly, we shall make ourselves available to provide relevant information and assistance. Paramount amongst our concern in the FCT is adherence to maintaining the Abuja Master Plan as designed and may be reviewed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.”

November 21, 2023
Wike, Fubara, Makinde woo foreign investors
- FCT ready to provide land, security – Minister
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, Simi Fubara, and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde,

on Friday, called on foreign investors to consider their domains when picking locations for setting up their companies in Nigeria.

Wike, Fubara and Makinde spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, during the opening of Hypercity 3, a chain store in Nigeria.

The minister said the government alone cannot provide jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youths, unless the private sector steps in.

He promised to provide lands and the conducive environment for investors to thrive in the Territory and contribute to the development of the nation’s capital.

Wike said: “When I got the invitation, I pleaded with the management to move it to Friday so I can attend. When you approached me as governor, you promised to build this place.

“As a government, our duty is to provide a conducive environment. You promised to build four. Within one year, you’ve built three. You’ve provided employment for our people.

Read Also: Wike, Fubara, Makinde woo foreign investors

“It is not only the government that can bring development. Let it not be only that it is only in Rivers State. Come to Abuja and build some there. We’ll provide lands.”

Rivers State Governor, Fubara on his part, said: “It is now on record that when Hypercity 3 was commissioned, I was also part of it. Our desire when we came onboard was to continue to uplift the development of the State based on consolidation.

“This is adding value to the economy of Rivers State. As a government, we will continue to give you security as all you need to succeed. This is because the government cannot do it alone. Private organisations need to join hands for the development of the state. The organisation should also expand to FCT and other places”.

His Oyo State counterpart who made a similar appeal.
November 18, 2023
Wike, Fubara, Makinde woo foreign investors

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers state, Simi Fubara, and his Oyo state counterpart, Seyi Makinde, on Friday, November 17, called on foreign investors to consider their domains when picking locations for setting up their companies in Nigeria.

The trio spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, during the opening of Hypercity 3, a chain store in Nigeria.

The minister said government alone cannot provide jobs for Nigeria’s teaming youths, unless the private sector steps in.

He promised to provide lands and a conducive environment for investors to thrive in the Territory and contribute to the development of the nation’s capital.

Wike said: “When I got the invitation, I pleaded with the management to move it to Friday so I can attend. When you approached me as governor, you promised to build this place.

Read Also; Tinubu cancels 40% IGR deduction from universities

“As a government, our duty is to provide a conducive environment. You promised to build four. Within one year, you’ve built three. You’ve provided employment for our people.

“It is not only government that can bring development. Let it not be only that it is only in Rivers State. Come to Abuja and build some there. We’ll provide lands.”

Governor Fubara on his part said: “It is now on record that when Hypercity 3 was commissioned, I was also part of it. Our desire when we came on board was to continue to uplift the development of the State based on consolidation.

“This is adding value to the economy of Rivers State. As a government, we will continue to give you security as all you need to succeed. This is because the government cannot do it alone. Private organisations need to join hands for the development of the state. The organisation should also expand to FCT and other places”.

In his appeal, Governor Makinde noted: “I’ve also told the MD of Hypercity that I will give him land free and tax holiday and I will also provide security for you. Oyo state is the gateway of the Southwestern part of Nigeria. This will also boost the economy of Oyo state.”

November 17, 2023
Land use contravention: Wike inaugurates task force, gives one month ultimatum

The minister of the federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed sadness over abuse of Land Use Act in Abuja.

Wike, while inaugurating a Task Force on the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for mass housing and the recovery of land use contravention fees, said the development is to ensure that each of the houses in mass housing estates has its own C of O and pay for it.

He lamented that virtually all residential areas have been turned to commercial, adding that something must be done about it.

The minister gave the committee one month ultimatum to submit report.

He said that those who contravened the Land Use Act must be recertified and pay penalties.

Wike explained that those given approval for residential buildings have converted to commercial structures, while those given for commercial also contravene by building residential houses.

He said: “So, there must be a recertification and there must be penalties.

“The only way people can be deterred from doing this is to make sure that we discourage them and discouraging them means that if you want to build, you have a penalty to pay, and that penalty must be severe.

“In as much as we want to generate revenue, we also want to control the development of areas.

“Abuja has to go back to the original Master Plan. If there is need to have some amendment, it is the government that will do such amendment, it is not for the allottees to do so on their own,” he said.

The minister said government agencies in charge of land administration in the FCT were part of the problem, adding that the agencies were included in the task force to solve the problem they created.

He said: “Part of the problem we are having is the agencies: development control is part of the problem; the land registry is part of the problem; Abuja Geographic Information System AGIS is part of the problem.

“That is why they are part of the task force to face the problem they have caused and solve the problem. No outsider will do it.

“So, you must be diligent. Of course, you know, I will monitor what you are doing, and this assignment will not last more than one month from today.

“Whatever fund you require, let us know, Zenith bank will provide you the fund, but I must approve the fund.

“You write to me, and I will tell Zenith Bank what I need,” the minister said.

He asked the task force to open two dedicated bank accounts for the assignment: one for non-compliance with the land use act and the other for the C of O.

Wike also asked the task force to include people who were given land by the Area Councils but without C of O, adding that those concerned should be asked to apply and be informed about the amount to pay.

The explained that Abuja depends on Internally Generated Revenue to execute projects in the FCT.

“I am not interested in who did not comply and I don’t want anybody to write to me that the task force came. All I need is results. I don’t want excuses,” he added.

The committee is chaired by Mr. Michael Chinda, Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to FCT minister on lands, urban and regional planning.

The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Shehu Ahmad would serve as the secretary.

Other members of the taskforce include the Director, Department of Development Control, Director, Department of Land Administration and the Director, Department of Surveying and Mapping.

Others are the Director, Department of Mass Housing, Director of AGIS, and Director, Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

Also included are two estate surveyors, Dr. Emmanuel Mark, and Mr Emma Okas.

Read Also: Fubara/Wike rift: Asari Dokubo, Jack-Rich sue for peace in Rivers, urge support for Tinubu

Responding on behalf of the members, Chinda expressed the readiness of the task force team to get to work and promised not to disappoint the minister.

The chairman further promised to deliver on the task within a month.

He described C of O as an “indispensable requirement” for land ownership, adding that the land belongs to the government and the people using it must pay.

“We will not spare anyone that has contravene and we will do the needful

“I can assure you that we will do this job with precision, diligence and a high level of professionalism so that we will meet your expectation and possibly exceed it.”

November 14, 2023
Wike seeks UAE’s partnership in transforming Abuja into Tourism Hub

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike yesterday sought collaboration with the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) towards developing the tourism potential of Abuja.

Wike tabled the proposal at a meeting in his office with the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shami ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the UAE for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Cahnge (COP28) between November 30 and December 12, at Expo City, Dubai.

The minister expressed desire for the nation’s capital to be transformed into a tourist destination in the same manner like Dubai city which has become a tourist centre of the world.

“Therefore, we are open to discussions, and I believe that when Mr. President is coming (visiting for the conference) , the FCT will partner and be part of the delegation, so as to be able to discuss on tourism as an economic means to both countries.

Read Also: Wike remains my principal, Fubara declares

“I am glad that the relationship is getting better and better than what it used to be. I know for the President, governance is business, and whatever that is going to make Nigeria great is what he is going to stand for. So we are here as his foot soldiers to complement his effort to seeing that his renewed hope agenda is fulfilled,” Wike said.

He also urged the UAE authority to earnestly resolve the visa restriction on Nigerians and flight issues between authorities and Emirates so that genuine visitors can travel to Dubai for tourism and business.

In his remarks, Ambassador Al-Shami expressed his passion for Nigerians and the fact President Tinubu is visiting Dubai at the end of this month to attend the Convention on Climate Change (COP28) edition, saying the President’s visit “ is going to be something great for us”.

November 14, 2023
You Wike me! I Fubara you!!

Nigerians were again witnesses to a political action hit, one proudly sponsored, scripted and produced by the political war horses of Rivers State. Such high powered political drama, the type that Nigerians have naturally become accustomed to- unofficial soap operas rated 18+ between godfathers and godsons. Like I stated earlier, such tragicomic did not begin with the madness in Rivers; such history can be traced to the early sixties where the likes of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Chief Obafemi Awolowo engaged each other in a roforofo fight for the soul of the Action Group, the then ruling party in the Western Region and opposition party at the Federal Parliament. The Second Republic was also rife with such skirmishes: We recall the rift between Rimi and Aminu Kano on one hand and on the other, Olusola Saraki and Alhaji Adamu Atta.

The Fourth Republic is however severally littered with such examples, perhaps owing to its longevity as a democratic experiment, the longest ever witnessed since our independence and the apparent lack of democratic ethos amongst the numerous players in the nation’s democratic sojourn. Nigerians practically did stay tuned to one godfather/godson drama after another, each drama seemed to improve on what had transpired in the previous script. For example in Enugu, Chimaroke Nnamani teed off with Jim Nwobodo at the same time his counterparts in Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra and Peter Odili of Rivers were up in arms against Sir Emeka Offor and Chief Marshall Harry. Down in Lagos, the incumbent president was up in arms with the likes of Ganiyu Dawodu, same thing was to occur in Kano, Kwara and Borno where Rimi, Saraki and Ali Modu Sherrif led a calvacade of disgruntled politicians against their one time protégés.

Some of these crisis were to have their own spinoffs, Chris Ngige and Chris Uba, Chimaroke vs Chime, Amaechi vs Odili , Wike vs Amaechi and now Fubara vs Wike! Kwakwanso and Ganduje, Anenih and Lucky, Oshiomole and Obaseki. Others were offbeat as seen in Lamidi Adedibu vs Rasheed Ladoja and Orji Uzor Kalu vs Theodore Orji.

The Fubara/ Wike crisis in Rivers State, took many political onlookers by surprise. Many cannot recall when the Falconer could no longer hear the falcon as there had been no mention of any kerfuffle between the duo. First, it was the bomb or explosive device that destroyed a part of the building whilst sending tremors to the neighboring environs, what followed next was the sitting by 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as early as 6 A.M in the morning ( Such Diligence) in which they served their notice of impeachment on the Governor. The Governor was to respond in kind after he was restrained by a section of the police while he was visiting the venue at that time to inspect the level of damage done to the building in question. He was to later ensure the election of the suspended majority leader of the house as speaker, “sack” the Chief Judge and his chief of staff while also dissolving the 23 chairmen of the local government areas in Rivers only to beat a retreat and deny carrying out any of the last three acts as reported by certain news outlets.

Fubara who is only six months in office has alleged no wrong doing to warrant his impeachment and has challenged his traducers to bring up any known infractions done by him or agents of his government against the constitution.

Read Also: Kogi 2023: Police bar security escort for VIPs at polling units

However, for Wike, Fubara had crossed the red line by hobnobbing with certain persons who Wike had dubbed as political foes. Wike alleged this whilst receiving some members of the PDP Governors Forum. He declared that he was not an ingrate and that no one could tamper with his structure in the South South

As laughable as these infractions leveled against Fubara appear to be, I am dead sure that when the likes of Bernard Crick described politics as an alternative to controlling people by force or fraud, he didn’t think of the likes of Wike. What really is wrong if Fubara courts certain enemies of Wike? Why should Fubara who has an agenda to govern a state as challenged as Rivers give his time to inheriting Wike’s enemies? Yes Wike may have been his boss and benefactor but should such transcend to how Fubara relates with such persons?

Had Wike and his supporters given a better example or reason for wanting Fubara out, yours sincerely would have examined such here but to think that all that madness that occurred was merely due to some reason as petty as having Wike’s enemies as Fubara’s enemies makes me question the state of mind of the average Nigerian politician.

Let us remind Wike of how he fell out with his former boss Rotimi Amaechi and joined Amaechi’s enemies in besieging the state while the former served as governor. It was the same Amaechi who had appointed Wike as his Chief of staff in 2008 before nominating him to become a minister in Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet by 2011.

To now want to crucify his protege for sins he Wike had also earlier committed is simply a display of haughty hypocrisy

If Wike could disagree with his benefactor then and the heavens did not fall, what crime has Fubara then committed that Wike isn’t guilty of?

Perhaps Wike has seen a pattern similar to his own experience and is bent on forestalling such, he wants what he has done to others not to be done unto him!

Wike wants to reap yams where he has sown coco yam!

November 11, 2023
Still on the Wike-Fubara feud

If we go back to the history of Nigeria, the truth is: dear fatherland has learnt nothing. In the days of Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola, this was how they started inventing stuff that had never been in existence; and that has continued to trouble the Nigerian state, even till this day. Therefore, what’s yet unclear to the likes of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is that, since society is like a cyclical entity, the chicks will always come home to roost. Since what goes around comes around, whether Wike, who was governor until May 28, 2023, has his way or Fubara forces his way through, whatever it is now will surely come back.

Nigerians must learn that, if we crave a just society, there is a price for it. So, whosoever wins an election should be sworn-in; and whosoever loses should go home and prepare with a view to re-climbing the horse that has fallen him or her. If we don’t have that understanding, if it is not internalized and, most importantly, if it is all about power at all costs, then there will always be problems of unimaginable proportions to contend with. That’s what’s happening to the political gladiators in Rivers State. Since nobody wants to lose, doing the careless permutations and reckless realignments with the winning forces has been the catalyst for Nigeria’s sorry pass. In Nigeria, governance is secondary, if not tertiary, while self is primary, and the ultimate. That’s why, even the villagers are getting used to high figures. The prices of our cars for official duties are in billions of naira and expenditures over some few things are in trillions. But there is nothing to show for them. So, what type of society is ours? Look around: the roads are horrible and infrastructures are non-existent. As a matter of fact, one can take segments and keep writing.

There is a serious lesson in the Wike-Fubara feud: when one aligns with a force just to achieve one’s goal, one must be cautious of how one invests in that goal. For example, when was their agreement solidified? One doubts if it’s up to ten years. But look at how it has faltered and fallen like a pack of cards? Well, Wike may not yet understand that power calculus is a very dicey thing: once you are out of power, your power turns to powder. But again, when was Fubara brought in that he has grown wings to the extent of showing his true colours? What has he swallowed within such a short period of time that he now wants to bite the finger that fed him, so soon? Why didn’t he do that when he was campaigning and begging the people, including Wike, for votes? Yes, Fubara should have told Riverians not to vote for him because of Wike but because of what he (Fubara) was capable of doing. Had the then governorship candidate been bold enough to tell that to the people – and the people voted for him – he would not have been under Wike’s shackles.

Incontestably, there are inevitabilities of certain events in life. The philosophers attempted to unravel them but they couldn’t. Even the scientists had to quickly agree to some certain things that lie in the hands of fate which are beyond the understanding of mere mortals. The First Republic lasted at the backbone of the practice of politics in Great Britain. So, when situations that were not typically similar to our own homegrown political incidences started arising, problems started showing up. For example, ‘Operation Wet e’ was never in Britain; and ditto for the ‘Wild, Wild West’. The Awolowo-Akintola fracas, which once defined politics in Western Nigeria, didn’t happen in Britain. It’s because Nigeria’s leaders could not match it; and … that signaled the doom of the First Republic.

Back in those days, the Awolowos of this world had examples from other climes, especially Great Britain to fall back on. In other words, they always found examples in the West. As such, politicians of that era were under obligations to obey or conform to the doings of the party because there were examples to draw from. It’s not that it was easier to do so, it’s because they had no choice.

Indeed, that’s where the Whites are wiser. They determine what happens from the crown to the government. They see themselves as certain special people who run the affairs of the state and, be it at work or in the church – in everything they do – they conjure their thinking around the fact that they’re going to give an account of what they do here on earth to a superior power, whether they like it or not. Over there, the judge is not just the judge because the system has so made him. Instead, he is the judge on behalf of the people and he or she will give an account. Indeed, that’s what regulates that society.

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Go to Britain! The Lord Chancery has a responsibility to the King, not the Prime Minister. So, the Prime Minister cannot just wake up one day and decree that a Brewery be built in Ijebu-Jesa, my Native Nazareth. No, it doesn’t go that way! Those people are not used to that arbitrariness. Theirs is a clime where orderliness reigns supreme; and that has become a tradition. They have a regime of usages that nobody, even when he or she wakes up from the wrong side of the bed, can just deviate from. It will be strange to them. Nigeria’s problems emanated – subsequently became aggravated – because, culturally, all the laws and the norms being practised in Nigeria were foreign in context and content. As a matter of fact, they were migrated social structures.

Politics contains an attachment, and that attachment is on its own a whole independent and different ballgame. When the man, Fubara and Wike were doing their things and plotting their graphs, it was not in the open and it was not debated democratically. Surely certainly, the fallout is what’s now coming out and bringing everybody together. At that time, the nitty-gritty of that concocted connivance was never meant for public consumption but, now, it has become public property. So, Nigeria’s political gladiators should learn one or two lessons from that. As Yorubas would always say, ‘Oro ti a ni ki Baba ma gbo, Baba naa ni yio pari re’ (The father of the house would be finally consulted to resolve all the knotty issues that were previously hidden from him). As fate would have it, all that was cooked in secret, Wike and Fubara will now have to tell the world how it all happened.

Tragically, while Wike may not yet appreciate the structure and the texture of the trouble in which he has courted, Fubara may have yet to grasp the shape and the size of the amazing mess in which he is conveniently immersed, all because of the struggle for power and relevance. Now that they have signed up their individual destinies, the clear prescription for Wike is to learn some lessons in power from Rotimi Amaechi, his predecessor in office. Before Fubara also contemplates outshining his master, let him grab a copy of Robert Greene’s ’48 Laws of Power’. Otherwise, he may need to sit at the feet of Chris Ngige a la Okija Shrine to avoid finding himself in the cycle of crises, again and again.

A word is enough for the wise!

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

November 11, 2023
Rivers PDP stakeholders back Wike, flay allegations against him

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from Ikwerre Local Government Area in Rivers have backed Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike over the political crisis rocking the state.

The PDP leaders from all the wards in Ikwerre, Wike’s council, endorsed all the resolutions of the House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

In a communique issued after their meeting in the council yesterday, the party leaders condemned the bomb attack on the hallowed chambers of the Assembly.

The communique, which was signed by over 28 PDP leaders, described the move to give ethnic colouration to the crisis as mischievous.

The leaders said: “We stand firm with our highly respected and indefatigable leader Chief Wike…

“We condemn in strong terms the barbaric and cowardly act of arson on the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30.

“We stand by all the resolutions of the Rivers House of Assembly led by the Speaker Amaewhule.

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“Those who are painting ethnic colours to the nascent political incidents in Rivers are mischievous to the state and must desist from doing so in the interest and the development of our dear state.

“Our support for Wike is predicated upon the fact he is supporting and defending the good of Rivers. His developmental strides remain indelible.”

“The few appointments he has made as Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are without ethnic colouration, justifying his averred philosophy of justice, equity and fairness.

“The political rumour of demanding 25 per cent of the state money from the government of Rivers is laughable, fake, spurious and only geared towards smearing the hard-earned reputation and impeccable image of the minister.

“The minister is a true democrat, a patriot and astute in statecraft who will not sacrifice his reputation on the altar of selfishness and mediocrity.

“We, therefore, call on all parties to embrace peace in the greatest interest of the people of the state.

“We are certain that the present situation has ended well.”

November 7, 2023
JUST IN: Rivers PDP stakeholders back Wike, hit critics

Prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, have thrown their weight behind the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, in the political crisis rocking the State.

The PDP leaders drawn from all the wards in Ikwerre, Wike’s council, also endorsed all the resolutions of the House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

In a communique after their meeting in the council on Monday, the party leaders condemned the bomb attack on the hallowed chambers of the Assembly complex.

The communique, which was signed by over 28 PDP leaders, described the move to give ethnic colouration to the crisis as mischievous.

The leaders further described as laughable, fake and spurious all the allegations levelled against Wike including claims that he demanded 25 per cent of the state’s allocations.

They said: “We stand firm with our highly respected and indefatigable Leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and now Honorable Minister of the Federal of Capital Territory (FCT).

“We condemned in strong terms the barbaric and cowardly act of arson on the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 30th October, 2023.

“We stand by all the resolutions of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Martins Amaewhule.

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“Those who are painting ethnic colours to the nascent political incidents in Rivers State, are mischievous to the state and must desist from doing so in the interest and the development of our dear state.

“Our support for His Excellency E.N. Wike, is predicated upon the fact that His Excellency E.N. Wike, is supporting and defending the good of Rivers State. His developmental strides remain indelible. The few appointment he has made as Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is without ethnic coloration, justifying his averred philosophy of Justice, Equity and fairness.

“The political rumour of demanding 25% of the State money from the Government of Rivers State is laughable, fake, spurious and only geared towards smearing the hard earned reputation and impeccable image of the Hon. Minister of (FCT)

“The Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is a true democrat, a patriot and astute in state craft who will not sacrifice his reputation on the altar of selfishness and mediocrity.

“We, therefore, call on all parties to embrace peace in the greatest interest of the people of the state. We are certain that the present situation has ended well”.

November 6, 2023
Wike is repositioning FCT, says Bello

Aliyu Bello is the Nasarawa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with reporters on the appointment of Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the challenge of governance in the capital city. Excerpts:

How would you assess the Tinubu administration, particularly his selection of ministers who will assist him in translating his Renewed Hope Agenda?

I want to say with all honesty, that the coming of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is a good omen to the people of Nigeria. When he came, he kickstarted the administration during his inauguration with a very serious economic policy. He knew that fuel subsidy was not budgeted in the 2023 appropriation he immediately told the whole world and especially the people of Nigeria to know that there is no longer going to be fuel subsidy. Which was indeed the correct step to take. Everybody is aware that the three major presidential candidates during the 2023 election, promised to remove subsidy. That has been taken care of. Of course, we understand that for every reform to be implemented successfully, pains must be endured. We must be patient and persevere in our support of the government to ensure that this policy is well implemented. We must imbibe that spirit. I agree that we must encounter hardships for the reforms to be implemented. Talking about his ministerial appointments, if you look at the crop of individuals appointed into the Federal Executive Council, you must have seen their performance during the screening at the National Assembly. Most of them are politicians of high repute, some of them are technocrats that were trained nationally and internationally. I want to believe that with the kind of man at the helm of affairs as the Chairman of the FEC and Commander in Chief, if you look at it, a lot of issues are being addressed. The insecurity is reducing in some areas and certainly, the prevailing security challenges will be curtailed and reduced to the barest minimum. But for the ministers, he has done the best and he has chosen the best. For now, we are crossing our fingers as we monitor their performance. This is bare about 120 days in office for the administration. So far, so good. The government is moving in the right direction despite the attempt to distract President Tinubu with the court litigation which came to an end only days ago. President Tinubu happens to be an individual with focus. He is delivering the dividends of democracy.

How satisfied are you with the measures put in place by the Tinubu government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal?

When we say cushion, it’s a temporary measure to reduce hardship and it’s okay. When civil servants are going to be paid N35, 000 for the next six months, that’s a step in the right direction. Mind you, there is going to be an increase in salaries and wages of public servants. Look at most of our state governments, the President is doing a lot to ensure that the sudden removal of the subsidy is effectively managed so as not to cause prolonged hardship to the people. Whether he said he removed the subsidy or not, fuel subsidy was not captured in the 2023 budget, at least from the month of July. In effect, the subsidy is gone even before the pronouncement by the President. In fact, this is timely because if you go to other countries, even here in Africa, I am telling you Nigeria is selling the cheapest oil even at the present price of about six hundred naira. Go to Rwanda and convert into naira the cost of a liter of petrol. It’s about N1720. If you go to Cotonou, it’s about N1200. If you look at it, with the removal, if you go to neigbouring border communities, all the black market and bunkering have disappeared. We are certainly going to support this government. The government is focused. We are going to see the reasons for the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Does the appointment of Nyesom Wike means that there is a government of national unity in place?

Wike is not the only person that contested for presidency and was later nominated and appointed a minister. If you look at it carefully, Jim Nwobodo at a particular time contested for the presidency against former president Olusegun Obasanjo. He later became a minister. The immediate past minister, Ogbonnaya Onu contested for president and he was a minister. There are a lot of people that contested for the presidency but ended up being ministers. The idea is service to humanity. If you want to serve the country faithfully, you can serve in any capacity. Either as a counselor, state assembly member, whether as a governor or any other position. I see no reason why because he contested for the presidency and he didn’t get it and as such if given the chance to become a minister he should reject it. Wike is doing it for the benefit of this country. I don’t see anything wrong in Wike wanting to be a minister. He wants to serve. He still has the vigor to add to this government, especially considering what he has done in Rivers State. He has what it takes to serve in this government and add value to the system. It does not matter that I am the Chairman of APC in Nasarawa State, if there is anybody that can add value, so be it. Just now I held a meeting with the special advisers to the governor of the state. I was thanking Nawani Aboki for accepting to be a special adviser in this government. Nawani Aboki was a director of NOA before the creation of Nasarawa State. In Plateau State, he was the director of NOA. And since he left NOA, the agency has gone into extinction. NOA is no longer as vibrant as before. But he accepted to work with us even though he is not a member of APC because of Engineer A. A Sule’s focus is to deliver dividends of democracy in the state. I was appreciating him during the meeting for even accepting to work with us. In that manner, we also have to thank Wike for even accepting to be a minister.

Read Also: Rivers State and Wike’s leadership burden

What is your reaction to how Wike is steering the affairs of the FCT?

What are the legacies left behind by previous ministers of the FCT? Let me be straightforward. I am an APC member. Is there any legacy left in the FCT? No. And who are the people that are talking? Who are they? It is our northern brothers. I am a northerner. You can’t deny that. But let them first tell us, what was the contribution or achievement of the immediate past minister that spent eight years there? What has he done? Let them show me one single achievement. Let us blame our own that was there. Look, I have been in politics since my secondary school days. All the ministers of the FCT were from the North. What legacy have they left? Apart from Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Even El-Rufai that came to leave a lasting imprint, he faced resistance especially when he compelled Muslim civil servants who used to say their daily prayers within and around the FCDA to pray only in the mosques. The people started insulting El-Rufai and praying to see his downfall. They did not see his downfall though. If indeed we are religious, we should be godly. It should not always be religion but without godliness. There is no manner of evil wish and prayers that people from the North threw on the path of El-Rufai but instead of destroying him, the prayers rather elevated his status. What has Wike done to warrant such negative comments?

Concerned APC supporters are saying Wike is deliberately trying to derail the APC administration by implementing anti people policies so as to favour his party ahead of 2027 general elections?

Who has given the APC a bad name? The person that was there before Wike was an APC member. The immediate past minister. What has he done? He has not been meeting with even the APC officials. He has not contributed anything to the APC. He has not contributed anything to the FCT. Decay everywhere. Abuja was even stinking. Look at when Wike came. He awarded contracts for over three hundred and fifty something roads. What are we saying? Let’s be factual and straightforward. Look, let me be sincere with you. Now you are a Muslim cleric, a respected cleric for that matter. You see, our religion teaches us to verify everything we hear. Going on social media saying Wike is going to demolish the central mosque. What manner of propaganda is this? What manner of incitement is this? We should at least be religious and godly at the same time. We should not be religious and not godly. Wike met with the management of Abuja Central Mosque and when they said undeveloped plots in Abuja will be revoked, they now said it’s because of the National mosque. Who asked you not to develop it? This is somebody that said he is even going to renovate the mosque. Let us leave religion out of this. Because we are beginning to get disappointed in some of our respected ulamas. Because, at least, as a Muslim cleric, our religion teaches us to always verify things before jumping to conclusions. I cannot just hear things on social media and assume it’s true. As a role model who has more than ten thousand followers, I go to social media and begin to castigate Wike. Let them allow him. By the time he completes his tenure or even spends a longer period, then they can begin to compare him with other so-called northerners. Let us continue to tell the truth and we shall continue to speak the truth. People should not use their frustration and anger on the appointment of Wike as the Minister of FCT. Our northern clerics should not use their frustration and anger against the appointment of Wike as the Minister of FCT.

Unless they have a hidden agenda. The other one was a minister. What have these clerics said, what have they done? That’s how they will continue to complain that the President is appointing his tribesmen, and continuously trying to bring divisions amongst us. There is nothing wrong in Wike being the Minister of FCT. I advise and I call with due respect to our Muslim clerics, we respect them, we believe in them and they are next to God. Let them always verify facts before jumping into conclusions. None of them have spoken directly to Wike. None of them can quote him saying he is going to demolish the Abuja central Mosque. But once Wike said he is going to revoke all undeveloped plots then we twist the issue. Probably most of them have undeveloped plots. That would explain their agitation. That will explain why they are seeking to transfer their anger and frustration on Wike. How many northerners were FCT ministers? Let’s live and see because God in his majesty has agreed. It’s not about your religion. It’s about fairness and justice.

November 6, 2023