How would you assess the Tinubu administration, particularly his selection of ministers who will assist him in translating his Renewed Hope Agenda?
" I want to say with all honesty, that the coming of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is a good omen to the people of Nigeria. When he came, he kickstarted the administration during his inauguration with a very serious economic policy. He knew that fuel subsidy was not budgeted in the 2023 appropriation he immediately told the whole world and especially the people of Nigeria to know that there is no longer going to be fuel subsidy. Which was indeed the correct step to take. Everybody is aware that the three major presidential candidates during the 2023 election, promised to remove subsidy.
"That has been taken care of. Of course, we understand that for every reform to be implemented successfully, pains must be endured. We must be patient and persevere in our support of the government to ensure that this policy is well implemented. We must imbibe that spirit. I agree that we must encounter hardships for the reforms to be implemented.
"Talking about his ministerial appointments, if you look at the crop of individuals appointed into the Federal Executive Council, you must have seen their performance during the screening at the National Assembly. Most of them are politicians of high repute, some of them are technocrats that were trained nationally and internationally.
'I want to believe that with the kind of man at the helm of affairs as the Chairman of the FEC and Commander in Chief, if you look at it, a lot of issues are being addressed. The insecurity is reducing in some areas and certainly, the prevailing security challenges will be curtailed and reduced to the barest minimum. But for the ministers, he has done the best and he has chosen the best.
"For now, we are crossing our fingers as we monitor their performance. This is bare about 120 days in office for the administration. So far, so good. The government is moving in the right direction despite the attempt to distract President Tinubu with the court litigation which came to an end only days ago. President Tinubu happens to be an individual with focus. He is delivering the dividends of democracy.
How satisfied are you with the measures put in place by the Tinubu government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal?
"When we say cushion, it’s a temporary measure to reduce hardship and it’s okay. When civil servants are going to be paid N35, 000 for the next six months, that’s a step in the right direction. Mind you, there is going to be an increase in salaries and wages of public servants. Look at most of our state governments, the President is doing a lot to ensure that the sudden removal of the subsidy is effectively managed so as not to cause prolonged hardship to the people.
"Whether he said he removed the subsidy or not, fuel subsidy was not cptured in the 2023 budget, at least from the month of July. In effect, the subsidy is gone even before the pronouncement by the President. In fact, this is timely because if you go to other countries, even here in Africa, I am telling you Nigeria is selling the cheapest oil even at the present price of about six hundred naira. Go to Rwanda and convert into naira the cost of a liter of petrol. It’s about N1720. If you go to Cotonou, it’s about N1200. If you look at it, with the removal, if you go to neigbouring border communities, all the black market and bunkering have disappeared.
'We are certainly going to support this government. The government is focused. We are going to see the reasons for the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Does the appointment of Nyesom Wike means that there is a government of national unity in place?
"Wike is not the only person that contested for presidency and was later nominated and appointed a minister. If you look at it carefully, Jim Nwobodo at a particular time contested for the presidency against former president Olusegun Obasanjo. He later became a minister.
" The immediate past minister, Ogbonnaya Onu contested for president and he was a minister. There are a lot of people that contested for the presidency but ended up being ministers. The idea is service to humanity. If you want to serve the country faithfully, you can serve in any capacity.
"Either as a counselor, state assembly member, whether as a governor or any other position. I see no reason why because he contested for the presidency and he didn’t get it and as such if given the chance to become a minister he should reject it. Wike is doing it for the benefit of this country. I don’t see anything wrong in Wike wanting to be a minister. He wants to serve.
"He still has the vigor to add to this government, especially considering what he has done in Rivers State. He has what it takes to serve in this government and add value to the system. It does not matter that I am the Chairman of APC in Nasarawa State, if there is anybody that can add value, so be it. Just now I held a meeting with the spcial advisers to the governor of the state.
" I was thanking Nawani Aboki for accepting to be a special adviser in this government. Nawani Aboki was a director of NOA before the creation of Nasarawa State. In Plateau State, he was the director of NOA. And since he left NOA, the agency has gone into extinction.
"NOA is no longer as vibrant as before. But he accepted to work with us even though he is not a member of APC because of Engineer A. A Sule’s focus is to deliver dividends of democracy in the state. I was appreciating him during the meeting for even accepting to work with us. In that manner, we also have to thank Wike for even accepting to be a minister.
What is your reaction to how Wike is steering the affairs of the FCT?
"What are the legacies left behind by previous ministers of the FCT? Let me be straightforward. I am an APC member. Is there any legacy left in the FCT? No. And who are the people that are talking? Who are they? It is our northern brothers. I am a northerner. You can’t deny that. But let them first tell us, what was the contribution or achievement of the immediate past minister that spent eight years there? What has he done? Let them show me one single achievement.
" Let us blame our own that was there. Look, I have been in politics since my secondary school days. All the ministers of the FCT were from the North. What legacy have they left? Apart from Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Even El-Rufai that came to leave a lasting imprint, he faced resistance especially when he compelled Muslim civil servants who used to say their daily prayers within and around the FCDA to pray only in the mosques.
"The people started insulting El-Rufai and praying to see his downfall. They did not see his downfall though. If indeed we are religious, we should be godly. It should not always be religion but without godliness. There is no manner of evil wish and prayers that people from the North threw on the path of El-Rufai but instead of destroying him, the prayers rather elevated his status. What has Wike done to warrant such negative comments?
Concerned APC supporters are saying Wike is deliberately trying to derail the APC administration by implementing anti people policies so as to favour his party ahead of 2027 general elections?
"Who has given the APC a bad name? The person that was there before Wike was an APC member. The immediate past minister. What has he done? He has not been meeting with even the APC officials. He has not contributed anything to the APC. He has not contributed anything to the FCT. Decay everywhere. Abuja was even stinking. Look at when Wike came. He awarded contracts for over three hundred and fifty something roads. What are we saying? Let’s be factual and straightforward.
"Look, let me be sincere with you. Now you are a Muslim cleric, a respected cleric for that matter. You see, our religion teaches us to verify everything we hear. Going on social media saying Wike is going to demolish the central mosque. What manner of propaganda is this? What manner of incitement is this? We should at least be religious and godly at the same time. We should not be religious and not godly.
" Wike met with the management of Abuja Central Mosque and when they said undeveloped plots in Abuja will be revoked, they now said it’s because of the National mosque. Who asked you not to develop it? This is somebody that said he is even going to renovate the mosque. Let us leave religion out of this. Because we are beginning to get disappointed in some of our respected ulamas. Because, at least, as a Muslim cleric, our religion teaches us to always verify things before jumping to conclusions.
"I cannot just hear things on social media and assume it’s true. As a role model who has more than ten thousand followers, I go to social media and begin to castigate Wike. Let them allow him. By the time he completes his tenure or even spends a longer period, then they can begin to compare him with other so-called northerners. Let us continue to tell the truth and we shall continue to speak the truth. People should not use their frustration and anger on the appointment of Wike as the Minister of FCT. Our northern clerics should not use their frustration and anger against the appointment of Wike as the Minister of FCT.
"Unless they have a hidden agenda. The other one was a minister. What have these clerics said, what have they done? That’s how they will continue to complain that the President is appointing his tribesmen, and continuously trying to bring divisions amongst us. There is nothing wrong in Wike being the Minister of FCT.
" I advise and I call with due respect to our Muslim clerics, we respect them, we believe in them and they are next to God. Let them always verify facts before jumping into conclusions. None of them have spoken directly to Wike. None of them can quote him saying he is going to demolish the Abuja central Mosque. But once Wike said he is going to revoke all undeveloped plots then we twist the issue. Probably most of them have undeveloped plots. That would explain their agitation.
"That will explain why they are seeking to transfer their anger and frustration on Wike. How many northerners were FCT ministers? Let’s live and see because God in his majesty has agreed. It’s not about your religion. It’s about fairness and justice. is repositioning FCT, says Bello
Aliyu Bello is the Nasarawa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with reporters on the appointment of Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the challenge of governance in the capital city. Excerpts:
How would you assess the Tinubu administration, particularly his selection of ministers who will assist him in translating his Renewed Hope Agenda?
" I want to say with all honesty, that the coming of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is a good omen to the people of Nigeria. When he came, he kickstarted the administration during his inauguration with a very serious economic policy. He knew that fuel subsidy was not budgeted in the 2023 appropriation he immediately told the whole world and especially the people of Nigeria to know that there is no longer going to be fuel subsidy. Which was indeed the correct step to take. Everybody is aware that the three major presidential candidates during the 2023 election, promised to remove subsidy.
"That has been taken care of. Of course, we understand that for every reform to be implemented successfully, pains must be endured. We must be patient and persevere in our support of the government to ensure that this policy is well implemented. We must imbibe that spirit. I agree that we must encounter hardships for the reforms to be implemented.
"Talking about his ministerial appointments, if you look at the crop of individuals appointed into the Federal Executive Council, you must have seen their performance during the screening at the National Assembly. Most of them are politicians of high repute, some of them are technocrats that were trained nationally and internationally.
'I want to believe that with the kind of man at the helm of affairs as the Chairman of the FEC and Commander in Chief, if you look at it, a lot of issues are being addressed. The insecurity is reducing in some areas and certainly, the prevailing security challenges will be curtailed and reduced to the barest minimum. But for the ministers, he has done the best and he has chosen the best.
"For now, we are crossing our fingers as we monitor their performance. This is bare about 120 days in office for the administration. So far, so good. The government is moving in the right direction despite the attempt to distract President Tinubu with the court litigation which came to an end only days ago. President Tinubu happens to be an individual with focus. He is delivering the dividends of democracy.
How satisfied are you with the measures put in place by the Tinubu government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal?
"When we say cushion, it’s a temporary measure to reduce hardship and it’s okay. When civil servants are going to be paid N35, 000 for the next six months, that’s a step in the right direction. Mind you, there is going to be an increase in salaries and wages of public servants. Look at most of our state governments, the President is doing a lot to ensure that the sudden removal of the subsidy is effectively managed so as not to cause prolonged hardship to the people.
"Whether he said he removed the subsidy or not, fuel subsidy was not captured in the 2023 budget, at least from the month of July. In effect, the subsidy is gone even before the pronouncement by the President. In fact, this is timely because if you go to other countries, even here in Africa, I am telling you Nigeria is selling the cheapest oil even at the present price of about six hundred naira. Go to Rwanda and convert into naira the cost of a liter of petrol. It’s about N1720. If you go to Cotonou, it’s about N1200. If you look at it, with the removal, if you go to neigbouring border communities, all the black market and bunkering have disappeared.
'We are certainly going to support this government. The government is focused. We are going to see the reasons for the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Does the appointment of Nyesom Wike means that there is a government of national unity in place?
"Wike is not the only person that contested for presidency and was later nominated and appointed a minister. If you look at it carefully, Jim Nwobodo at a particular time contested for the presidency against former president Olusegun Obasanjo. He later became a minister.
" The immediate past minister, Ogbonnaya Onu contested for president and he was a minister. There are a lot of people that contested for the presidency but ended up being ministers. The idea is service to humanity. If you want to serve the country faithfully, you can serve in any capacity.
"Either as a counselor, state assembly member, whether as a governor or any other position. I see no reason why because he contested for the presidency and he didn’t get it and as such if given the chance to become a minister he should reject it. Wike is doing it for the benefit of this country. I don’t see anything wrong in Wike wanting to be a minister. He wants to serve.
"He still has the vigor to add to this government, especially considering what he has done in Rivers State. He has what it takes to serve in this government and add value to the system. It does not matter that I am the Chairman of APC in Nasarawa State, if there is anybody that can add value, so be it. Just now I held a meeting with the special advisers to the governor of the state.
" I was thanking Nawani Aboki for accepting to be a special adviser in this government. Nawani Aboki was a director of NOA before the creation of Nasarawa State. In Plateau State, he was the director of NOA. And since he left NOA, the agency has gone into extinction.
"NOA is no longer as vibrant as before. But he accepted to work with us even though he is not a member of APC because of Engineer A. A Sule’s focus is to deliver dividends of democracy in the state. I was appreciating him during the meeting for even accepting to work with us. In that manner, we also have to thank Wike for even accepting to be a minister.
What is your reaction to how Wike is steering the affairs of the FCT?
"What are the legacies left behind by previous ministers of the FCT? Let me be straightforward. I am an APC member. Is there any legacy left in the FCT? No. And who are the people that are talking? Who are they? It is our northern brothers. I am a northerner. You can’t deny that. But let them first tell us, what was the contribution or achievement of the immediate past minister that spent eight years there? What has he done? Let them show me one single achievement.
" Let us blame our own that was there. Look, I have been in politics since my secondary school days. All the ministers of the FCT were from the North. What legacy have they left? Apart from Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Even El-Rufai that came to leave a lasting imprint, he faced resistance especially when he compelled Muslim civil servants who used to say their daily prayers within and around the FCDA to pray only in the mosques.
"The people started insulting El-Rufai and praying to see his downfall. They did not see his downfall though. If indeed we are religious, we should be godly. It should not always be religion but without godliness. There is no manner of evil wish and prayers that people from the North threw on the path of El-Rufai but instead of destroying him, the prayers rather elevated his status. What has Wike done to warrant such negative comments?
Concerned APC supporters are saying Wike is deliberately trying to derail the APC administration by implementing anti people policies so as to favour his party ahead of 2027 general elections?
"Who has given the APC a bad name? The person that was there before Wike was an APC member. The immediate past minister. What has he done? He has not been meeting with even the APC officials. He has not contributed anything to the APC. He has not contributed anything to the FCT. Decay everywhere. Abuja was even stinking. Look at when Wike came. He awarded contracts for over three hundred and fifty something roads. What are we saying? Let’s be factual and straightforward.
"Look, let me be sincere with you. Now you are a Muslim cleric, a respected cleric for that matter. You see, our religion teaches us to verify everything we hear. Going on social media saying Wike is going to demolish the central mosque. What manner of propaganda is this? What manner of incitement is this? We should at least be religious and godly at the same time. We should not be religious and not godly.
" Wike met with the management of Abuja Central Mosque and when they said undeveloped plots in Abuja will be revoked, they now said it’s because of the National mosque. Who asked you not to develop it? This is somebody that said he is even going to renovate the mosque. Let us leave religion out of this. Because we are beginning to get disappointed in some of our respected ulamas. Because, at least, as a Muslim cleric, our religion teaches us to always verify things before jumping to conclusions.
"I cannot just hear things on social media and assume it’s true. As a role model who has more than ten thousand followers, I go to social media and begin to castigate Wike. Let them allow him. By the time he completes his tenure or even spends a longer period, then they can begin to compare him with other so-called northerners. Let us continue to tell the truth and we shall continue to speak the truth. People should not use their frustration and anger on the appointment of Wike as the Minister of FCT. Our northern clerics should not use their frustration and anger against the appointment of Wike as the Minister of FCT.
"Unless they have a hidden agenda. The other one was a minister. What have these clerics said, what have they done? That’s how they will continue to complain that the President is appointing his tribesmen, and continuously trying to bring divisions amongst us. There is nothing wrong in Wike being the Minister of FCT.
" I advise and I call with due respect to our Muslim clerics, we respect them, we believe in them and they are next to God. Let them always verify facts before jumping into conclusions. None of them have spoken directly to Wike. None of them can quote him saying he is going to demolish the Abuja central Mosque. But once Wike said he is going to revoke all undeveloped plots then we twist the issue. Probably most of them have undeveloped plots. That would explain their agitation.
"That will explain why they are seeking to transfer their anger and frustration on Wike. How many northerners were FCT ministers? Let’s live and see because God in his majesty has agreed. It’s not about your religion. It’s about fairness and justice.
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