The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, on Saturday declared that the projects being executed by the FCT Administration constitute the strongest campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike made the declaration while inspecting ongoing projects across the nation’s capital, including the Apo-Karshi Road and the dualisation of the 14-kilometre Buhari-Kubwa Satellite Town access road.
According to him, the impact of completed and ongoing projects on residents is more important than political promises.
“When people ask me about campaign, I say, what is campaign? See the campaign! Campaign is what have you done for the people? What has the government got to show? It’s not about promises; it’s about really putting in action that things indeed will have a positive impact in the lives of the people,” Wike said.
He said the Tinubu administration had demonstrated through its projects that it was committed to improving the lives of residents, particularly in the FCT.
Wike described the Apo-Karshi Road as a long-standing challenge inherited by the present administration, noting that the project was originally awarded in 2010 but had suffered delays.
He explained that the FCT Administration terminated the previous contract because of the importance of the road and persistent complaints from residents before awarding it to SCC, which he said had demonstrated the capacity and commitment required to complete the project.
“The Apo-Karshi road has been a topical issue. That was a road that was awarded in 2010 as one of those projects that Mr. President inherited. Because of the importance of that road and the complaints by residents, we had to terminate the contract and awarded it to SCC, which we think has the capacity and the capability to complete that job,” he said.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, saying the contractor had promised to complete the project by November.
He commended SCC for continuing work despite uncertainties over payment, saying the company had demonstrated confidence in the administration’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations.
“I know I like to commend people who have shown commitment and support for the administration. SCC is one of those companies that have supported this administration, whether we have paid or not. They are always working, knowing fully well that this is a government that will always fulfill their promises,” Wike said.
On the Buhari-Kubwa project, the minister said the 14-kilometre dualisation of the satellite town access road was another example of the infrastructure transformation being delivered under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said residents in the area could hardly have imagined that such a major road project would be constructed to connect them to Kubwa.
“Here we are, it’s Buhari to Kubwa. The dualisation of the satellite town access road, 14 kilometres. I don’t think the people of this area ever dreamed that there’ll be a road here to Kubwa. Again, it’s part of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Wike said the FCT Administration was working to ensure that several projects commissioned during President Tinubu’s first anniversary would be completed and delivered to residents before the next general election.
He said the number of impactful projects delivered before the election could surpass the 10 projects he earlier promised to commission.
“Before the election, I gave 10 projects that we commissioned. If care is not taken, it may be more than 10 projects that are very impactful to the economic activities and the lives of the residents of these cities,” he said.
The minister also used the occasion to explain his position on the 2027 campaign structure, saying he would not seek the position of Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Wike, who said he supported President Tinubu’s emergence in 2023, recalled that several politicians who previously served as campaign directors-general had failed to deliver their home states to their presidential candidates.
He cited former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong as examples.
“I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and my state. What’s important is that you are able to deliver those two states? So it’s not about being DG. If you’re DG and you don’t win your state, what’s the essence of the DG?” Wike said.
The minister said his priority was to ensure victory for the president in areas where he has influence rather than occupy a formal position in the campaign council.
He further explained that he was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that his political support for Tinubu did not depend on membership of the party’s presidential campaign council.
According to him, the Rainbow Coalition of political forces that supported Tinubu in 2023 remains relevant ahead of the 2027 election.
“We don’t need to be members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. We are doing our own work,” he said.
Wike also disclosed that he would be responsible for coordinating the campaign effort in Rivers State and the FCT, stressing that political calculations in individual states would determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.
“Every politics is local. If you cannot deliver the president in your state, how will you say you want an election? If you lose your own state, even if you’re DG, you’ll be ashamed,” he said.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the inspected projects, saying their completion would provide significant economic and social benefits to residents.
He urged residents to recognise the difference between political promises and projects that directly affect their daily lives, stressing that the administration’s record of infrastructure delivery should speak for itself.
