President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally invited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), in what appears to be both a political overture and an endorsement of Wike’s transformative role in the capital’s development.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Arterial Road N16 in Abuja, Tinubu praised the FCT administration for its orderly relocation of communities affected by infrastructure expansion.
“You have been respectfully relocated, not displaced. It is not a land grab. Like any responsible government, our goal is development, but how well we plan and implement depends on our leadership and your cooperation,”
Tinubu stated. “We appreciate your trust, and we thank the Honourable Minister for managing the process with peace and proper compensation.”
Minister Wike, in turn, commended the President’s commitment to infrastructure, noting that the administration’s credibility has boosted contractor confidence and performance.
“As I speak, contractors are competing to deliver projects, even before initial mobilisation funds are released. That is the kind of confidence your leadership has inspired,” Wike said.
“There is not a single FCT contract awarded under your tenure that will be abandoned. By your third year in office, virtually every project you approved will be completed to the glory of God.”
The Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, in a statement issued by the Assistant Director of Press, Rabi Musa Umar, expressed deep appreciation for President Tinubu’s support and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to infrastructural transformation.
She also acknowledged the contributions of Vice President Kashim Shettima, the National Assembly, and members of the Federal Executive Council, while hailing Wike’s leadership for “turning Abuja around.”
Providing a technical brief on the Arterial Road N16 project, Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda, described it as a 3.7-kilometre six-lane dual carriageway, featuring two interchanges.
The road stretches from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway (near Nicon Junction) to the Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way), traversing Katampe District.
The event signals not only a milestone in Abuja’s urban renewal but also a growing political realignment, with President Tinubu potentially setting the stage for a broader coalition by extending an invitation to one of the country’s most influential opposition figures.
Credit: Punch except headline
