Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has said that Nigeria has made progress in democratic rule for the past 25 years.
Wike said this while speaking on Thursday at the ThisNigeria Annual Lecture and Gold Prize Awards, which was at held the Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja
The Minister stated that the country has made significant progress with its democratic rule, adding that there was room for improvement.
He urged the people to believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda to deliver the dividend of democracy in due time.
Countering Professor Mike Ozekhome, one of the speakers at the event, Wike said “First of all, we have been talking about democracy for 25 years and I know we have challenges but I expected Ozekhome to admit that we have made progress.
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“In all his points, not one progress was mentioned. They were all criticisms. Are you telling me that for 25 years, we have not made any progress?
“We should not give an impression as though progress has not been made. There is still room for improvement.
“You hailed the infrastructural development in the FCT. The FCT Minister works for the president, which means we can go through people who would help move the country forward.
“The President knows that there is a problem, which is why he said we needed the Renewed Hope Agenda. He knows that Nigerians have lost hope, and he must work hard to renew it. So it’s not for you to tell him that the people are suffering because he has been making a lot of effort.
“We can’t expect that within a short time, an economy that was down will be working immediately. We appreciate you for mentioning our good works in Abuja, but you must also understand that it would spread to other parts of the country.”
