Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at his political critics, saying those who once condemned him for allegedly working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) have now joined the same ruling party.
Wike, who spoke on Wednesday during the flag-off of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) — popularly known as the Apo–Wassa Road — in Abuja, said his stance has been vindicated by recent defections of key opposition figures to the APC.
“People said I wanted to destabilise the PDP and that I was working for the APC. All of them are now in APC,” Wike said. “If that’s true, they should commend me for paving the way for them. I’ve told people that politics is for the mature.”
The minister’s remarks came amid a fresh wave of defections that has seen Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, and Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC within 48 hours, a development ThisNigeria earlier reported as part of the opposition’s deepening crisis ahead of 2027.
Diri’s exit, along with 19 Bayelsa lawmakers, brings the number of PDP governors who have defected to the ruling party in the past year to four, a movement that Wike described as “proof that the APC is getting it right under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Wike commended President Tinubu for what he called “decisive and visionary leadership”, saying the president has reversed years of financial hardship for state governments through sound fiscal reforms.
“When I was governor, I ran around banks to look for money to pay salaries and do projects. Today, because of one man’s leadership, every state now has enough resources. Banks are now chasing states, not the other way around,” he said.
According to Wike, the Tinubu administration has not only stabilised revenue inflow to states but also empowered governors to embark on visible projects that directly impact citizens.
“No governor can now complain of leaving debts for his successor. That is what decisive leadership means, the kind of leadership this country needs,” he declared.
Wike’s remarks come at a politically charged moment when defections have further exposed the weakness of the opposition PDP.
But for the FCT Minister, the message was clear- those who once mocked him for aligning with Tinubu’s vision are now following his footsteps.
*FCT projects reflect Renewed Hope Agenda
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, in her remarks, said the construction of the Apo–Wassa dual carriageway symbolises Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda in action.
“President Tinubu’s leadership constantly reminds us that progress is not just in policies but in tangible transformation of lives and communities,” Mahmoud said.
She also commended Wike for his “unrelenting drive, foresight, and people-centred vision,” which, according to her, is rapidly changing the infrastructure landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.
