BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised to reward every councillor with N10 million if they successfully deliver their respective political wards to President Bola Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the promise on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Kwali Area Council, where he challenged councillors to intensify grassroots mobilisation and secure the support of residents for the APC.

Addressing traditional rulers, political leaders and other stakeholders at the gathering, the minister urged the councillors to engage community leaders, youth groups and local associations, stressing that electoral victory would depend largely on their ability to mobilise voters at the grassroots.

“Any councillor that delivers his ward will get N10 million reward. Therefore, go and meet your leaders, go and meet your youth groups, go and consult with associations. Let’s deliver our ward to Mr President,” he said.

The minister also openly declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid and endorsed Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT Senate seat and Danladi Chiya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency.

Expressing confidence in the APC’s chances in the territory, Wike said he was convinced that Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji would deliver overwhelming support for the party in 2027.

“I don’t need to preach to you any longer. The one you are seeing is what you follow, not the one that will give you unfulfilled promises. I will go to sleep tonight because I know Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Abaji are 100 per cent for APC,” he declared.

Wike also criticised opposition politicians over what he described as their inconsistent attitude towards judicial decisions, accusing them of praising the courts when judgments favour their interests and questioning the judiciary when rulings go against them.

He cited the legal disputes involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), recalling how opposition figures had celebrated a favourable Supreme Court judgment but later accused the government of using the judiciary against them following an unfavourable court decision.

“When ADC had a matter in court and won at the Supreme Court, they said, ‘The court is the last hope,’ ‘The court has saved democracy,’ and ‘We know our judiciary will not fail us.’

“But when they lost a court case, it became: ‘The President is using the court to fight the opposition.’ When it is good for you, the judiciary is clear. When it is bad, you claim they are using it to destroy democracy. What kind of system are we operating?” he questioned.

The FCT minister also defended his administration’s decision to provide brand-new sport utility vehicles to first-class traditional rulers in the territory, dismissing allegations that the gesture was intended to secure political support or amounted to bribery.

According to him, traditional rulers occupy important positions in their communities and deserve respect and adequate official support, just like other public office holders who enjoy similar privileges.

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“You want a first-class traditional ruler to be walking on the road with a stick in hand, taking public buses so they can get hit by a car one day? But you expect Chief Press Secretaries to Governors, Chairmen, and Presidents to ride SUVs?

“Instead of using their platforms to support good things, critics turn it upside down. We will provide for our traditional rulers, and nothing will come out of their complaints,” he said.

On development, Wike disclosed that the FCT administration had constructed more than 270 kilometres of roads across satellite towns, with Kwali accounting for 95 kilometres. He added that several ongoing road projects across the satellite communities were nearing completion and would be inaugurated in December.

He further highlighted the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and infrastructure improvements across satellite towns as some of the achievements of the current administration.

Wike argued that the Federal Capital Territory had suffered years of political and administrative neglect despite its growing population, which he estimated at between six and seven million people. He noted that the territory still had only one senator and two members of the House of Representatives.

“For 50 years, nobody could remember you. The President has changed the narrative, given you your own civil service, allowed you to employ your people, and elevated your traditional stools. You cannot afford to make a mistake in 2027,” he warned.

The minister also promised to look into the salaries of FCT councillors following an appeal by Gambo Hamza, Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, who disclosed that councillors in the territory received N260,000 monthly.

Hamza had urged Wike to intervene and consider a review of their remuneration.

Meanwhile, the FCT APC Chairman, Ishaku Yamawo, commended Wike for bringing political stakeholders together across party lines and promoting development in the territory.

His Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Mohammed Dogara, also thanked the minister for his work in the FCT and pledged strong support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Similarly, Aliyu Baka, who represented Rainbow Coalition stakeholders, expressed regret over what he described as the coalition’s electoral mistakes in the 2023 general elections, adding that the group was determined to work towards victory for its preferred candidates and Tinubu in 2027.