By Philip Yatai
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the infrastructure revolution currently sweeping through the territory, including rural communities, will guarantee a comfortable electoral victory for President Bola Tinubu in the nation’s capital in 2027.
Wike made the remarks after an inspection tour of several ongoing infrastructure projects across the territory on Tuesday.
Reflecting on the shifting political dynamics in Abuja, the minister said that the traditional voting patterns in the FCT were already changing in Tinubu’s favour.
He pointed at the Feb. 21 area council elections in the FCT, where the ruling All Progressives Congress won five out of the six area council chairmanship seats as a clear indicator of the shift.
“We already saw signs of change in the voting pattern in FCT during the area council elections where, for the first time, the ruling party won in places it had never won before.
“What the people want is simple—they want to feel the impact of governance and that is what President Tinubu is giving to them,” he said.
According to him, the Tinubu administration’s secret weapon is simply delivering on the basic needs of the citizenry and extending massive development projects beyond the city centre to neglected rural areas and satellite towns.
Wike emphasised that Nigerians were not looking for political illusions, but tangible improvements to their daily lives such as infrastructure, stable electricity and improved living conditions.
“What reason would people have not to vote for Mr President now? How many governments before now have been able to impact the satellite towns the way this administration is doing?
“This is the first time people are seeing development extend beyond the city centre. It is simply governance in action, considering the milestones achieved within the administration’s first three years in office.
“The ultimate test of any government is its positive impact on human lives. I am, therefore, absolutely confident that the FCT will swing decisively in favour of the president in future elections based on performance alone,” he said.
Wike recalled the historic visit to the Kwali Area Council for the inauguration of the A2 to Pai Road, noting that it marked the first time a sitting president would be visiting such a rural area for project inauguration.
He assured residents that the momentum would not slow down, with numerous road and water projects currently being rolled out for inauguration across various rural communities.
Speaking on the projects inspected, the minister expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work.
He stated that the contractors had kept to their promise that, by the end of the month, most of the projects would be ready for inauguration during Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.
He lauded the delivery of the Court of Appeal Complex, FCT Division project at Dakibiyu, which he said was 70 per cent completed, with finishing touches, including painting, currently being put there.
He added that the Judges’ Quarters at Katampe were almost fully completed and polished, while work was ongoing at site for the proposed residences for the Industrial Court judges and the Code of Conduct Tribunal quarters.
The minister said that the Collector Road CN2, also in Katampe, was almost ready, adding that the contractor was currently working on the walkways and almost done with the streetlights.
For Gaduwa District road, the minister said that streetlights were being installed, while work was continuing on the walkways and road markings.
At the informal sector site in Wasa, where the Apo Mechanic Village would be relocated to, the minister said that the roads and streetlights had already been completed.
“What remains now is the water connection. I also came here with security officials so that they can commence work on the police station and police residential quarters.
“This massive face-lift for the capital’s informal sector will boost the local economy and ease city congestion,” Wike said. (NAN)
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
