Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged opposition political figures to acknowledge what he considers the achievements of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that political differences should not prevent an objective assessment of government policies and performance.
Wike made the remarks during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Wednesday, October 14, where he addressed party leaders, governors and other political stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Wike described himself as a leader of the PDP while explaining his support for President Tinubu. He maintained that political affiliation should not prevent politicians from acknowledging decisions they consider beneficial to the country.
The former Rivers State Governor disagreed with opposition narratives portraying the administration as lacking direction, arguing that Tinubu had demonstrated the willingness to confront difficult national problems that previous governments had recognised but had not adequately addressed.
On national security, Wike expressed confidence in the administration’s capacity to confront insecurity and highlighted the proposed establishment of state police as a reform he believes could strengthen security management.
“The debate over state policing has continued to generate national discussion, particularly around constitutional safeguards, funding, accountability and the relationship between federal and state authorities,” the statement noted.
The FCT Minister also challenged members of the Presidential Campaign Council to demonstrate their political influence through measurable results within their respective areas of responsibility, rather than relying solely on their appointments or positions.
In a review of the proceedings prepared by the Media and Publicity Team of the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA), Wike’s intervention was identified as one of the significant moments of the inauguration.
His remarks formed part of an inauguration that brought together political figures from different parties, including Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
For the FORCEPA Media and Publicity Team, the inauguration presented an opportunity to document the positions articulated by political stakeholders on governance, public accountability, security reform and the relationship between political competition and national development.
“The Forum maintains that public discussion of government performance should be informed by verifiable policies, measurable outcomes and the experiences of Nigerians across different sectors,” it stated.