The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has reacted to the recent wave of defections by governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying those who once criticised him for working with the ruling party are now defecting in numbers.
Mr Wike, who spoke on Wednesday during the flag-off of the main carriageways of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road 1 to Ring Road 2 along Wassa Road, Abuja, said his critics should now commend him rather than condemn him.
According to him: “I have been watching on television and social media, those who accused me of destabilising the PDP and working for APC, all of them are now in APC. If it is true I worked for APC, then they should commend me, not condemn me. It means I did a good job for them.”
His remarks came shortly after Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State left the PDP for the APC, moves that have further deepened cracks within the opposition.
The former Rivers State Governor, who reaffirmed his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the President’s policies had enhanced the financial stability of states and the FCT.
“I was a governor for eight years, and I know what it meant to run around banks to borrow money for projects and even to pay salaries. But today, by the decisive leadership of Mr President, banks are now the ones running after states. Salaries are being paid, projects are being executed, and no governor is talking about leaving huge debts for successors. That is visionary leadership,” he stated.
Mr Wike praised the transformation taking place across the FCT, attributing the progress to President Tinubu’s leadership style.
He also addressed the planned relocation of traders at Apo Market, assuring them that the process was still ongoing, while revealing that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had completed cost evaluations for the new infrastructure.
On the OSEX project, he said it would significantly ease traffic congestion into the city centre.
“Before the Apo–Wassa road was done, it took hours to enter the city. It was horrible. But gradually, we are delivering happiness to the people of the FCT,” he said.
