Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has mocked his critics who once accused him of working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying many of them have now joined the same party.
He stated this while Speaking at the flag-off of the construction of the main carriageways on the outer southern expressway in Abuja on Wednesday.
Wike said those who had claimed he wanted to destabilise the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should now commend him since they have all defected to the APC.
He said, ‘I have been watching on daily television and social media, people who said I want to destabilise the party, I am working for the APC. All of them are now in the APC. So, which means if it is true, they should commend me for working for where they are heading. So, I should be commended for doing a good job for them.’
Wike also praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, saying it has strengthened the financial stability of states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said, ‘Let every state be sincere to their people and to Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years. I was a governor running around banks to look for money to do projects. Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to talk about doing projects.’
‘Today, by the leadership of somebody, by the decisive leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states, and the Federal Capital Territory, not to be running around banks again. Rather, banks are now looking for states to say, ‘look, don’t throw us away, we are here.”
The minister noted that President Tinubu’s leadership has made it possible for states to have enough resources not only to pay salaries and allowances but also to execute projects without incurring debts.
‘Somebody has made that possible; every state now has money. Not only to pay salaries, not only to carry out government activities, but also to embark on projects. It was not like that before,’ Wike said.
He described the decision to support the Tinubu-led administration as ‘worthwhile,’ adding that no governor will leave debts for their successors any longer, as it used to happen before.
‘So, if, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr President, I think it is worthwhile. Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen before. That is the leadership of somebody. And that’s what this country needs for now visionary leadership, purposeful leadership that will be able to take decisions, decisions that people were running away from taking when they had the opportunity,’ he added.