President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday signaled openness to welcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike into the All Progressives Congress (APC), as he commissioned several road projects in the FCT, including the strategic Arterial Road N16.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Shehu Shagari Way from Ring Road One (Nnamdi Azikiwe Way) to Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Road), Tinubu acknowledged Wike’s impact on infrastructure delivery in Abuja, describing him as a political asset even though he is “not yet” a member of the APC.
“We have somebody in Nyesom Wike. He is not a member of my party. Not yet. But the day he changes his mind and registers with the Progressives, we will welcome him,” Tinubu said with a chuckle, adding, “We will enjoy him singing, ‘As e dey pain them, e dey sweet us.’”
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Renewed Hope in Action
The president praised the completed road as a symbol of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting it wasn’t just a stretch of asphalt but a link to economic growth, improved mobility, and increased national competitiveness.
“Infrastructure is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is the bedrock of national competitiveness, growth, social integration, and economic opportunity,” he said.
Tinubu affirmed that the FCT Administration had relocated and compensated affected residents of the Gishiri community and emphasized that the land for the project was not forcefully taken.
He listed the benefits of the road, which include easing congestion around central Abuja and enhancing connectivity to growing districts like Katampe, Jahi, and Mabushi.
Wike Takes a Swipe at Opposition
In his usual animated style, Minister Nyesom Wike showered praises on the president and dismissed the planned coalition by opposition parties as “dead on arrival,” citing the administration’s success in delivering infrastructure projects.
“Your good works have killed the coalition,” Wike declared.
“Even though you have given us just 10 days, with the Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker sharing the rest, the opposition’s blood pressure will keep rising.”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a prominent figure in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has grown increasingly close to the Tinubu administration, prompting speculation about a potential defection to the ruling APC.
He added, in a jab at his critics:
“Some people were born not to be happy. My job now is to continue to give them high blood pressure. As e dey pain them, e dey sweet us.”
More Projects Ahead
Wike also revealed plans to commission more projects in the coming days, including:
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A 15-kilometre Apo-Wassa Road on Friday
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Arterial Road N5 in Life Camp on Monday
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Rehabilitation of access roads around the INEC Headquarters on Tuesday
The FCT Minister stressed that these projects are proof of President Tinubu’s commitment to urban renewal and national development, urging Nigerians to acknowledge the transformation happening under his watch.
As the president continues his commissioning tour, attention remains on Wike’s next political move — and whether his frequent praises of the president are precursors to a formal defection to the APC.
