President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently disclosed that he humorously threatened to sack the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, if his policies did not align with the ruling All Progressives Congress political interests.
The President made this revelation at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when Wike led a delegation of prominent FCT residents on a Sallah homage to commemorate the end of Ramadan fasting and the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
Recalling an interaction with Wike, Tinubu narrated how the minister had approached him with a request to exempt the FCT from the Treasury Single Account to enhance financial flexibility and facilitate 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 stated.
The President further shared how he had teased Wike about the potential political ramifications of his proposals, questioning whether they would benefit the APC in the FCT.
“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.’”
Tinubu praised Wike for his impactful policies, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, healthcare, and education, acknowledging the minister’s efforts to modernize the FCT.
“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,” Tinubu noted.
The President highlighted several achievements under Wike’s leadership, including:
– The revitalization of the Vice-President’s residence, which had been neglected for years.
– Rehabilitation of health centers and the enhancement of healthcare services for FCT residents.
– Upgrading of school infrastructure and improvement of teacher welfare programs.
“Thank you, Wike,” Tinubu added, commending the minister’s dedication and achievements.
The President’s remarks shed light on the delicate balance between governance and political strategy, emphasizing the importance of policy alignment with party interests.
