Tinubu: We’re Not Just Building Roads, We’re Rebuilding Trust in Nigeria’s Democracy
Wike Slams 2027 Coalition: “Operation Show Your Scorecard Has Begun”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and grassroots development, declaring that the ongoing infrastructural transformation across the country is as much about restoring public trust as it is about roads and bridges.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday during the commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Aguma Palace–Radio Nigeria–New Market Road in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Tinubu said his government is delivering more than physical projects—it is delivering renewed hope.
“We are not just rehabilitating roads. We are rehabilitating trust,” Tinubu said. “The transformation unfolding across the FCT is the product of deliberate reforms and the bold, reform-oriented policies of this administration.”
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Inclusive Development for All Nigerians
The President emphasized that under his Renewed Hope Agenda, the FCT is undergoing a “quiet revolution”, expanding beyond Abuja’s city centre to reach neglected satellite towns and rural communities. He hailed the road project in Gwagwalada as a testament to participatory democracy, noting that it was nominated by the people themselves.
“This is the kind of democracy we believe in—one that listens, responds, and delivers,” Tinubu added. “This road is a corridor of dignity for the market woman, a path to safety for schoolchildren, and a route to prosperity for the hardworking trader.”
He stressed that every Nigerian community matters to his administration, saying, “No community is too far to be seen, no voice too faint to be heard.”
Wike Slams Coalition Politicians: “Show Your Scorecard!”
Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike used the event to launch a scathing attack on opposition figures forming a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, questioning their credibility and motives.
Wike took aim at the coalition’s adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a political platform, accusing them of forming alliances not out of public interest but out of desperation to return to power.
“I never knew people were so pained that so many things are going well in the FCT,” Wike said. “They started a coalition barely six months into Tinubu’s administration. When will you stop deceiving Nigerians?”
He singled out prominent figures in the coalition, including former Senate President David Mark and former Minister Rotimi Amaechi, daring them to present their track records in office.
“Operation ‘show your scorecard’ has begun. When I was governor, I showed my achievements. Show us what you did. Stop claiming Nigerians are angry. You are angry because you’re out of power—and you won’t return,” Wike declared.
Attacks on Atiku’s Political Journey
Wike also criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of being politically inconsistent.
“Since 1999, he has been jumping from one party to another. Now in 2025, he’s forming yet another coalition. Were you born into a coalition?” he mocked.
Road as a Symbol of Change
Speaking at the event, Minister of State for FCT Mariya Mahmoud described the road’s commissioning as a reflection of Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance. She thanked the President and other senior leaders for enabling infrastructural renewal in rural areas long neglected.
“If not for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the joy shared by the Gwagwalada community today would not have been possible,” she said.
Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, Coordinator of the Satellite Town Development Department, gave a technical breakdown of the project, which includes a 10KM road, a 150mm sub-base, and solar-powered street lighting, describing it as a game-changer for the community.
A Quiet Revolution in the FCT
As development surges beyond Abuja’s central districts, Tinubu’s administration appears to be redefining governance as a tool of inclusion, not privilege.
“The days of empty promises and abandoned projects are behind us,” the President said. “We are not just building infrastructure. We are building confidence in governance.”
The event marked a significant political and developmental milestone for the Renewed Hope Agenda, as the administration blends delivery of projects with a clear political message—performance is the new campaign.
