| Endorses Aduda, Gbadaya under Rainbow Coalition, promises Gombe-Kubwa road by December
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged residents of the territory to avoid what he described as the political mistakes of the 2023 general elections, calling on them to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Wike also endorsed former Senator Philip Aduda and other political figures under the Rainbow Coalition, an alliance bringing together members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue common political interests in the FCT.
The minister spoke on Thursday during an interactive session organised by the coalition in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, where he cautioned residents against supporting politicians he described as “political gamblers” and urged them to evaluate political leaders based on their performance and contributions to development.
“The mistake we made in 2023, would we make that mistake again? If it was an error, would we make that error again?” Wike asked, prompting participants to respond in the negative.
He argued that ongoing infrastructure projects and other interventions across the territory justified continued support for Tinubu, insisting that political considerations should not override the interests of the people.
According to Wike, the Rainbow Coalition was established to bring politicians across party lines together to promote development and ensure that residents benefited from effective representation and government interventions.
“It doesn’t matter the party. After all, party is a vehicle that conveys you to where you are going. When you get there, you come down from the vehicle and you now work for the interest of the people,” he said.
Wike urged residents to assess their elected representatives by their accessibility, responsiveness and willingness to engage with communities, traditional rulers, women and young people.
He questioned whether residents had felt the impact of the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, asking whether she had adequately engaged with the people and addressed their concerns.
“Today, the people of FCT, do you feel the impact? Do you feel the presence of the senator representing FCT today?” he asked.
Wike presents Aduda as coalition’s preferred candidate
Presenting Aduda to the gathering, Wike described the former senator as a politician who understood the needs of FCT residents and urged participants to rally behind him.
“So, I am here today to present to you your own son. The man who understands when you are sleeping. The man who knows when you are crying. The man who knows when Gombe people are in need. Senator Philip Aduda,” the minister said.
He also endorsed President Tinubu for a second term, attributing ongoing development projects in the FCT to the President’s backing and approval of major infrastructure initiatives.
Wike maintained that the administration’s ability to address longstanding infrastructure deficits depended significantly on the President’s willingness to approve and support the projects.
“All these things are being done because somebody is responsible. If the person does not agree with the minister doing anything, nothing will happen,” he said.
The minister subsequently assured residents that the Gombe-Kubwa road project would be ready for use by December, expressing confidence that the development would improve connectivity and ease movement within the territory.
“Let me authoritatively tell you today, by the grace of God, this December, you will do Christmas on this road, Gombe to Kubwa,” he declared.
Political compromise to strengthen coalition
Wike also disclosed that political negotiations had resulted in Julius Adamu, the PDP chairmanship candidate in the last Area Council elections, stepping down in favour of Joshua, the incumbent chairman of Bwari Area Council.
He presented the development as an example of political stakeholders setting aside personal ambitions to advance collective interests and strengthen cooperation within the Rainbow Coalition.
The minister said he would recommend Adamu for a position in the FCT Universal Basic Education Commission, describing the gesture as part of efforts to encourage cooperation among political actors.
The arrangement, he added, was intended to consolidate the coalition’s political structure and mobilise support for Tinubu and candidates endorsed under its platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bwari leaders seek more infrastructure projects
A women leader from Bwari Area Council, Deborah Ayorinde, commended Wike for his interventions in the territory but appealed to him to sustain his support for the council.
She described Bwari as one of the most neglected of the FCT’s six area councils, expressing optimism that the minister’s involvement would help address longstanding development challenges.
“Among the six Area Councils we have in FCT, Bwari Area Council is the most neglected. Because Bwari Area Council has been marginalised for long. Your arrival reawakens our hope,” she said.
Ayorinde praised Wike for supporting Joshua’s emergence as chairman, recalling the minister’s role in persuading Adamu to step aside in the interest of the council’s political arrangement.
Quoting the Bible, she said residents were encouraged by Wike’s involvement in their affairs and appealed to him to help ensure a smooth electoral process.
“The Bible that I believe says, when the righteous person is in power, the people rejoice. We are rejoicing because we have you as our father,” she said.
“Please, sir, I am here this morning to plead, to beg, to solicit. We want to win our election in Bwari Area Council smoothly,” she added.
She also expressed confidence that residents would support Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
APC, PDP leaders embrace Rainbow Coalition
The FCT APC Chairman, Tanko Yamawo, commended Wike for promoting cooperation between politicians from the two major parties, recalling that political divisions had previously discouraged members of rival parties from openly associating with one another.
Yamawo recounted an incident in which a former PDP chairman reportedly declined a ride in his car because he feared that being seen with an APC member could jeopardise his position.
He said the political atmosphere had since changed, with APC and PDP members now collaborating under the Rainbow Coalition.
“What you have done today is not for Aduda, Gabaya and Chiya to benefit, but all of us as politicians in FCT are going to benefit from what you have started today,” he said.
Yamawo expressed confidence that Bwari residents would support APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
Similarly, the FCT PDP Chairman, Ismaila Dogara, declared that the Rainbow Coalition had come to stay, saying members of his party had embraced the arrangement and were prepared to work with their APC counterparts in support of Tinubu.
Dogara urged Wike to communicate the expectations of FCT residents to the President, describing the ongoing infrastructure interventions as an opportunity for the territory to reciprocate the administration’s efforts through political support.
Traditional rulers commend projects, request more roads
Traditional rulers at the meeting also praised the minister for ongoing infrastructure projects while calling for further interventions in their communities.
The Sarkin Bwari, Alhaji Awwal Musa Ijakoro II, commended the administration for water projects and road construction around Tokulo, Ushafa and the Bwari-Zuba axis.
He, however, appealed for the rehabilitation of the road linking the Army Checkpoint to central Bwari, describing it as an important route requiring urgent attention.
The Esu of Bwari, Dr Ibrahim Yaro, also acknowledged the minister’s infrastructure efforts and called for improvements to roads linking Karu, Mpape and neighbouring communities.
In his welcome address, Bwari Area Council Chairman Joshua thanked Wike for his political support, recalling that residents had responded positively to the minister’s earlier appeal for them to support his candidacy.
He said the ongoing projects across the FCT had strengthened public confidence in the administration and pledged continued cooperation with the minister.
The meeting was part of the Rainbow Coalition’s political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, as APC and PDP stakeholders sought to consolidate their alliance and build support for Tinubu’s re-election and candidates endorsed under the coalition’s political arrangement.