Wike inspecting project at FCT
I was there. The President said it. A former FCT Minister affirmed it. As a resident since 1988, I confirm it
I was at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, Friday night for the special thanksgiving banquet organized to celebrate the successful inauguration of 31 projects across the Federal Capital Territory as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the present administration.
Speaking through the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared the current FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, the best minister so far in the 50 years existence of the territory.
Minutes earlier, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, spoke through Dr. Aliyu Modibo. Dr. Modibo, who served as FCT Minister between 2007 and 2008, is currently the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties in the office of the Vice President. Speaking extempore, Modibo informed the audience of eminent Nigerians that he had VP’s permission to do “a peer review of all the past and present FCT ministers” at the occasion.
His verdict was clear: the incumbent is “one of the best three ministers” in the history of the administration of the 8,000 square kilometre territory. He named the three as Air vice Marshal Hamza Abdullahi, Major General Muhammadu Gado Nasko, and the incumbent, Barrister Nyeson Wike
Dr Modibo, however, left the choice of who is the first, second, or third to the audience. But the gathering made up of serving and past ministers, past and serving members of the National Assembly, serving and former permanent secretaries, serving and former directors of the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, serving and past chairmen of FCT area councils and others chorused: “Wike is the first” and Modibo smiled, heartily.
Two endorsements. One from the President. One from a peer who has sat in the same chair. That is weighty. 38 years of watching, I write as a witness.
I have lived in Abuja since 1988. I was Vanguard’s pioneer Abuja Bureau Chief and worked in that capacity and higher positions for many years. In 38 years, I have watched 12 of the 17 ministers who have run the FCT.
From Chief Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun ( 1976-79), John Jatau Kadiya (1979-83), Iro Abubakar Dan Musa (1982-83), Haliru Dantoro (1983), Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa (1984-85), Major General Hamza Abdulllahi (1986-89), Major General Gado Nasko (1989-93), Major General Mamman Kontagora (1998-99), Ibrahim Bunu (1999-2001), Mohammed Abba Gana (2001 -2003), Nasir El-Rufai (2003-2007), Aliyu Modibo (2007-2008), Muhammed Adamu Aliero (2008-2010), Senator Bala Abubakar Mohammed ( 2010-2015), Mohammed Musa Bello (2015-2023) to the incumbent, Barrister Nyeson Wike, I have seen masterplans launched and abandoned. I have seen satellite towns promised and ignored. I have seen a beautiful central area surrounded by benighted communities. So, when the president spoke, I understood the context.
THE WIKE DIFFERENCE
What has changed? Three things, and they are visible.
1. Speed. Projects that gathered dust for 10 years are now being commissioned every quarter. The Outer Ring Road. Arterial roads in Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari, Kwali. Contractors are back because payments are coming.
2. Equity. For 50 years, Abuja meant the Central Area, Garki 1 and 2, Wuse 1 and 2, Maitama, Asokoro and partially Kubwa, Karu, Nyanya and a few other places. Wike is taking asphalt, light, and water to the various other districts. The 8,000sqkm territory is finally being treated as one city.
One this, I recall vividly that the recurring question at the yearly ministerial briefings by journalists to FCT Ministers was the need to spread development beyond the city centre. Top journalists like Olu Akerele of Concord, Ibrahim Biu of New Nigerian, Idahosa Asowata of Daily Times, Harris Dawurang of Standard, Hadiza Abdullahi of Triumph, Nike Adelegan of Punch, Camillus Eboh of The Guardian, Jide Olawuyi of Sketch, Dapo Olufade of Vanguard, Innocent Nwobodo of Champion, Osita Izunaso of Satellite, Segun Adeniyi of African Concord, Anselm Okolo and Ola Awoniyi of Tribune, Razak Mogaji of Newswatch, Sunday Dare of The News, Sherif Muhammed of Democrat, Felix Onuah of The Reporter, Taweh Zakah of New Nigerian, Ebun Obadofin, Rasheed Bello, Muhammed Adamu of Concord, Tunde Rahman of Times, Martins Oloja, Alex Kabba, Alifa Daniel of Abuja Newsday, my humble self and others whose names now escape me, repeatedly advised the ministers to pay attention to the satellite towns even as the city centre was being rapidly developed. We warned against repeating Lagos’ uneven development pattern. As the Fourth Estate, we sounded the alarm early.
3. Order. Renewed enforcement of the Abuja masterplan. Clean-up of parks and green areas. Logistics for security agencies. Abuja is beginning to look and feel like a capital again. You can now truly see Abuja and marvel!
This is delivery at scale and at pace.
LEADERSHIP WITH HUMILITY
But the moment that defined the night was Wike’s response. He did not take a victory lap. He was fair to his predecessors. “All of them were good with great ideas,” he said. “What they lacked were visionary leaders who could motivate them to give their best.” Then he pointed to the source of his drive: “I am privileged, over privileged to serve as FCT Minister under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — the best leader, motivator, mentor, enabler, inspiration any minister could dream of.” He gives credit up. Shares credit sideways. Owns the delivery. That is leadership.
WHY THE PRESIDENT IS RIGHT
Abuja is Nigeria’s face. When an investor lands at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, his first impression of Nigeria is the FCT. For decades, we built a capital for photo-ops and neglected capital for people. Wike is closing that gap. He is connecting Abuja. He is securing Abuja. He is lighting up Abuja. I have no brief to praise. As a journalist and resident, my job is to record what I see. And what I see is unprecedented delivery in under 3 years.
The President’s declaration is not flattery. It is fact — backed by a peer review from a former FCT Minister and by the reality on our roads every day. 50 years. 17 ministers. One stands out. President Tinubu is right. Barrister Nyesom Wike is the standout minister in the history of the Federal Capital Territory.
Olaosebikan is the pioneer Abuja Bureau Chief of Vanguard Newspapers
