President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday openly extended an invitation to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to join the All Progressives Congress, saying the party would gladly welcome him whenever he decides to defect.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Arterial Road N16 to Arterial Road N20 and other projects in Katampe District, Abuja, Tinubu praised Wike’s leadership in the FCT and hinted at a future political alliance.
“We have somebody in Nyesom Wike. He’s not a member of our party, not yet. But the day he changes his mind and registers with the progressives, we will welcome him. Because we will join him in singing, ‘as e dey pain them, e dey sweet us’,” the President said.
The invitation came as Wike declared that any planned opposition coalition to unseat Tinubu in 2027 was already doomed to fail.
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“Mr President, your good work has killed the coalition. The coalition is bound to fail, and it has failed.
“I was watching [the news]. I didn’t know that people can be pained. And now that I know that such people are pained, my duty now is to continue to give them high blood pressure,” he said.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration began 17-day inauguration activities to mark the second year of Tinubu’s administration.
On Tuesday, the President inaugurated the renovated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, in Abuja, where he eulogised the minister for the new look of the centre.
On Wednesday, while inaugurating the Arterial Road N16 to Arterial Road N20 and other roads in the Katampe District, the President said the project affirmed his administration’s commitment to transformation, adding that a philosophy of reform and regeneration guided his government.
He described infrastructure as a necessity, noting that infrastructure would not flourish without good roads.
Tinubu said his administration would keep investing in roads, rail, power, healthcare, education and digital infrastructure.
“This project represents more than a stretch of asphalt. It affirms our commitment to urban transformation, under our Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Since assuming office in May 2023, this administration has been guided by a philosophy anchored on reform and regeneration. Today, we’ve seen tangible proof of that philosophy in action.
“Infrastructure is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It is the bedrock of national competitiveness, growth, social integration and economic opportunity.
“We recognise that our nation’s development is linked to the quality of infrastructure, connecting people, cities and industries. There’s no way industrialisation will flourish without good roads.
“We are investing in roads, rail, power, healthcare, education and digital infrastructure. It is only through this coordinated and integrated development that we can unlock Nigeria’s full potential. I promise you, we will,” the President stated.
he applauded the peaceful relocation and compensation of the communities along the road corridor during the execution of the project, ensuring that development was pursued by the FCTA without displacing the indigenous people.
Addressing the traditional rulers, the President said, “They told me how cooperative you were and you collaborated with the FCT minister and respectively, you have been relocated. Not that we grabbed the land.
“Like any government, we want development. But how well we organise and execute them depends on us. Of course, we are here because of the trust you have in us. Thank you very much for your cooperation.
“And we thank the Minister of FCT too, for relocating your community with peace and good compensation.”
Wike said the President’s infrastructure drive had instilled confidence in contractors handling projects across the FCT.
He promised that all ongoing projects would be completed before the third anniversary of the administration.
“As I speak to you now, companies and contractors are competing among themselves.
“Most of them have gone without even giving them the initial mobilisation; that is confidence building, and that’s what you’ve created.
“No one contract that you have awarded under the FCT will be abandoned.
“By the time you do your third year in office next year, you will see that virtually all the contracts you have awarded under you as the President, as the Chairman of the Federal Executive Council, we will have finished them to the glory of God,” he said.
In a statement by the Assistant Director, Press, FCTA, Rabi Musa Umar, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, expressed gratitude to the President for his unwavering support of the FCTA and his commitment to infrastructure development. She extended appreciation to Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Assembly members, and the Federal Executive Council while lauding Wike’s visionary leadership for “turning Abuja around.”
The Acting Executive Secretary, FCDA, Richard Dauda, while presenting a technical brief of the Arterial Road N16, said the project is a six-lane dual carriageway with a total length of about 3.7 kilometres, including two interchanges.
The road, he added, emanates from the Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway (by Nicon Junction and continues up to the Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way), passing through the Katampe District.
The Punch
