…Backs Tinubu’s re-election, endorses Aduda, Gabaya
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has urged residents of the territory not to repeat what he described as the political mistakes of the 2023 general elections, calling on them to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Wike, who spoke on Thursday at an interactive meeting of the Rainbow Coalition involving stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, also endorsed Senator Philip Aduda and John Gabaya under the coalition’s political arrangement.
The minister warned residents against politicians he described as “political gamblers”, urging them to assess political leaders based on their records, accessibility and contributions to the development of their communities.
He said the infrastructure projects being executed across the FCT reflected the support of the Tinubu administration, arguing that residents should consider the benefits of the government’s interventions in deciding their political future.
“ The mistake we made in 2023, would we make that mistake again? If it was an error, would we make that error again?” Wike asked, drawing a negative response from the audience.
He cautioned residents against what he called political gambling, stressing that political affiliations should not prevent stakeholders from working together in the interest of the people.
According to him, the Rainbow Coalition was designed to bridge party divisions and promote cooperation among politicians who share common development goals.
“It doesn’t matter the party. After all, party is a vehicle that conveys you to where you are going. When you get there, you come down from the vehicle and you now work for the interest of the people,” he said.
Wike also challenged residents to examine the performance of their elected representatives, particularly in terms of their presence in communities and engagement with traditional rulers, women and youths.
Questioning the impact of the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, he asked whether residents had felt her presence and whether she had visited communities to understand their challenges.
“Today, the people of FCT, do you feel the impact? Do you feel the presence of the senator representing FCT today?” he asked.
Presenting Aduda to the gathering, Wike described the former senator as someone who understood the needs of FCT residents and urged stakeholders to support him.
“So, I am here today to present to you your own son. The man who understands when you are sleeping. The man who knows when you are crying. The man who knows when Gombe people are in need. Senator Philip Aduda,” he said.
The minister also attributed ongoing infrastructure development in the territory to Tinubu’s support, saying the President’s approval was crucial to the implementation of major projects.
“All these things are being done because somebody is responsible. If the person does not agree with the minister doing anything, nothing will happen,” he said.
Wike further assured residents that the Gombe-Kubwa road project would be ready for use by December.
“Let me authoritatively tell you today, by the grace of God, this December, you will do Christmas on this road, Gombe to Kubwa,” he said.
He disclosed that political negotiations had resulted in Julius Adamu, the PDP chairmanship candidate in the last Area Council election, stepping down in favour of Bwari Area Council Chairman, Joshua.
Wike described the development as an example of putting collective political interests above personal ambition, adding that he would recommend Adamu for a position in the FCT Universal Basic Education Commission.
He said cooperation among political stakeholders was necessary to strengthen the coalition and advance its objectives ahead of the 2027 elections.
Bwari women seek greater attention
Meanwhile, a women leader from Bwari Area Council, Deborah Ayorinde, appealed to Wike to sustain his support for the council, describing it as one of the most neglected of the FCT’s six area councils.
Ayorinde said the minister’s involvement in the council’s political affairs had renewed residents’ hopes for greater attention to their needs.
“Among the six Area Councils we have in FCT, Bwari Area Council is the most neglected. Because Bwari Area Council has been marginalised for long. Your arrival reawakens our hope,” she said.
She commended Wike for supporting Joshua’s emergence as council chairman, recalling his intervention in the political negotiations that led to Adamu stepping down.
Citing the biblical principle that people rejoice when the righteous are in authority, Ayorinde said residents welcomed the minister’s involvement in the affairs of the council.
She, however, appealed to him to continue supporting the area council to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
“Please, sir, I am here this morning to plead, to beg, to solicit. We want to win our election in Bwari Area Council smoothly,” she said.
Ayorinde also expressed confidence that residents would support Tinubu in the forthcoming election.
APC, PDP leaders back coalition
Earlier, FCT APC Chairman, Tanko Yamawo, commended Wike for bringing politicians from different parties together, saying the Rainbow Coalition had helped ease divisions that previously discouraged open interaction among members of rival parties.
Yamawo recalled an incident in which a former PDP chairman declined a ride in his car because he feared that associating with an APC member could jeopardise his position.
He said the situation had changed, with politicians from both parties now working together under the coalition.
“What you have done today is not for Aduda, Gabaya and Chiya to benefit, but all of us as politicians in FCT are going to benefit from what you have started today,” he said.
Yamawo expressed confidence that Bwari residents would support APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
FCT PDP Chairman, Ismaila Dogara, also declared that the Rainbow Coalition had come to stay, saying party members had embraced the arrangement and were prepared to work together in support of Tinubu.
Dogara urged Wike to convey the expectations of FCT residents to the President, describing the period as an opportunity for the territory to reciprocate the administration’s interventions.
Traditional rulers seek more projects
Traditional rulers at the meeting commended the minister for ongoing infrastructure projects but called for more attention to roads and other facilities in their communities.
The Sarkin Bwari, Alhaji Awwal Musa Ijakoro II, praised the administration’s water projects and road construction around Tokulo, Ushafa and the Bwari-Zuba axis.
He appealed for the rehabilitation of the road linking the Army Checkpoint to central Bwari, describing it as a major concern for residents.
The Esu of Bwari, Dr Ibrahim Yaro, also commended the minister’s infrastructure efforts and called for improvements to roads linking Karu, Mpape and neighbouring communities.
In his welcome address, Bwari Area Council Chairman, Joshua, thanked Wike for his political support, recalling that residents had responded positively to the minister’s earlier appeal for support for his candidacy.
He said ongoing projects across the FCT had strengthened public confidence in the administration and pledged continued cooperation with the minister.
The meeting was part of the Rainbow Coalition’s political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, bringing together APC and PDP stakeholders to discuss political cooperation and candidates under the coalition’s arrangement.
