President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed that he jokingly threatened to remove Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), if his policies did not align with the interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President shared this insight at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a Sallah visit by Wike, accompanied by a group of notable FCT residents, to mark the end of Ramadan and the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
Tinubu recalled how Wike had asked him to lift the FCT out of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system to enable more financial flexibility for development.
“I remember when Nyesom Wike came to me and said, ‘Please, take us out of this TSA issue so I can accomplish more,’” Tinubu remarked.
He then described his own political concerns about Wike’s proposal, asking how it would impact APC’s political future in the FCT.
“I said, ‘I know your intentions, whether from your party (PDP) or mine. If this favors you too much, you might lose your job.’ To which he responded, ‘Okay, we’ll resolve that, Oga.’”
Despite this, President Tinubu praised Wike for his impactful initiatives that have transformed the FCT, especially in areas like infrastructure, health, and education.
“He introduced ideas that helped modernize the bureaucracy, foster progressive thinking, and created opportunities for those limited by property rights,” the President said.
Under Wike’s leadership, significant achievements include revitalizing the Vice-President’s residence, upgrading health centers and improving services, and enhancing school facilities and teacher welfare.
“Thank you, Wike,” Tinubu concluded, recognizing his minister’s contributions.
The President’s comments underline the delicate balance between governance and political considerations, emphasizing the importance of aligning policies with party priorities.
While Wike, a senior member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has maintained that his focus remains on developing the FCT, his ongoing cooperation with the APC-led government continues to fuel political debates among opposition groups.
