Prioritise governance, workers’ welfare over political attacks, APC chieftain urges Wike - Punch Newspapers
File photo of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Yakubu Sani, has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to prioritise governance and the welfare of workers in the nation’s capital rather than engaging in political attacks on opponents. Sani, who is the founder of the Arewa Mandate Alliance, in a statement on Sunday, said Wike should focus on delivering the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu and improving the living conditions of the FCT residents. The APC chieftain also urged the minister to broaden his focus beyond roads and bridges to include the welfare of teachers, healthcare workers and civil servants, as well as challenges such as inadequate water supply, indiscriminate parking and refuse disposal across the capital. “Wike should learn from Uzodimma. The Imo governor is working and organising quietly without abusing anybody. He is concentrating on governance, delivering projects and organising the largest support base for the President,” he said. The APC chieftain urged Wike to remain focused on fulfilling the President’s mandate for the FCT and improve the quality of life for residents of the nation’s capital.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google “Every road and bridge commissioned in Abuja should be an opportunity to talk about development, not an occasion to abuse or denigrate perceived obstacles to his unbridled and rabid political ambition,” he said. Sani cautioned that Wike’s increasingly confrontational political rhetoric could distract from the infrastructure projects being delivered under the Tinubu administration. He advised the minister to let the projects executed under his supervision demonstrate his performance, rather than using commissioning ceremonies as platforms for political exchanges. The APC Chieftain also urged Wike to broaden his approach to development beyond roads and bridges by ensuring regular water supply and working with taxi operators to improve traffic order and discipline across Abuja. Tinubu hale, hearty, says Presidency 2027: APC youth group pledges 20 million votes for Tinubu Nigeria woos 14 German firms for industrial investments “While Wike is building roads and bridges, he should also be asking what is happening to the welfare of teachers, healthcare workers and civil servants in the FCT. “Many FCT residents don’t have water, while motorists compete with refuse dumps for space on major roads in the city. This leads to obstruction as vehicles are parked indiscriminately on motorways. “You cannot build beautiful roads and bridges and ignore the people who teach our children, treat our sick and run the machinery of the government. Their welfare should also be a priority. “President Tinubu gave Wike a job to do in Abuja. He should concentrate on that job. Let the quality of his work speak for him instead of using every commissioning ceremony to attack APC governors who are committed to Tinubu’s re-election,” he said. Sani added that Wike could enhance his political standing by showing that effective governance, rather than political confrontation, remained the priority of his tenure as the FCT minister. FCT Minister and Peoples Democratic Party leader in the APC-led Federal Government, Wike, has continued to promote the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State in support of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections. Wike recently alleged that Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his Imo counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, were behind some of the political challenges confronting him, linking their opposition to the coalition’s growing influence and its support for politicians challenging APC candidates in governorship and senatorial elections. Uzodimma, who chairs the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum, has said that the party’s governors would not support any alliance capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election or weakening the party ahead of 2027, insisting that they would campaign for APC candidates at all levels. Wike, however, has maintained that his support for Tinubu’s presidential bid does not require him to back APC candidates in other elections, saying he remains free to support candidates of his choice, amid continued tensions between him and some APC governors. Abdulrahman Zakariyau Abdulrahman is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with nearly a decade of professional experience covering political parties, elections, religion, civil society organizations, and the Nigeria Governors Forum. He is also a development and strategic communication expert, skilled at analyzing complex issues and delivering impactful narratives. Abdulrahman’s reporting reflects extensive newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to informative and insightful journalism.
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