By Toyin Adebayo
ABUJA – Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has declared that no amount of “coalition politics” or propaganda can erase the visible results of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, challenging critics to present their own scorecards instead of inciting discontent among Nigerians.
Speaking at the commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Aguma Palace–Radio Nigeria–New Market Road in Gwagwalada Area Council on Friday, Wike mocked opposition figures who, according to him, are pained by the rapid transformation happening in the FCT under Tinubu’s leadership.
“Mr. President, today is the 16th day that you have devoted time to personally participate in commissioning ceremonies,” Wike said. “I never knew people were so pained that so many things are going on very well in the FCT until last night when I saw one of the presidential aspirants of the coalition party that was an industrialist, so pained that he’s angry the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation are all coming to commission projects. Yet they say the people are angry!”
Turning to the jubilant Gwagwalada crowd, Wike asked pointedly: “Gwagwalada people, are you angry?” The crowd roared back, “No!”
The Minister lambasted opposition figures for what he called “fake coalitions” formed to distract Nigerians from the administration’s tangible projects.
“I never asked people but they said coalition started 18 months ago. Mr. President has been in office two years. So you started coalition when he was six months in office! When will you stop deceiving Nigerians?” Wike thundered.
He challenged past leaders to show their legacies rather than hiding behind empty rhetoric.
“Somebody came into office six months, you say Nigerians are angry. But you were Senate President for eight years, you were Speaker for four years, you were Minister of Transportation for eight years. Yet you never made angry Nigerians happy but today you want to come back to power. You won’t come back!”
He declared this era “Operation Show Your Scorecard,” insisting leaders must account for the opportunities they had to serve the people.
“When he was Senate President, let me show my scorecard. How did I help the people of Benue State? Is it by flying helicopter to Otukpo? We are here for 16 days, showing our scorecard!”
He recounted his own political battles, reminding the crowd of his history of defeating powerful godfathers and “super ministers” who failed the people.
“2015, I defeated a very powerful governor who wanted his boy to be governor. 2019, a super minister borrowing money everywhere, made us heavily indebted I defeated him. 2023, same thing. They said they will support one man whose only job is jumping from party to party. Now 2025, they form another coalition. Dem born you born coalition?!”
Celebrating the Gwagwalada project, Wike said the road, like others under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was chosen by the people themselves not imposed from offices in Abuja city centre.
“One good thing about these projects in rural areas we never sat in the city and said, ‘Go and do so-so road.’ We came here and the people said, ‘This is what we want.’ That’s community participation in governance!”
He commended local contractors, noting that the administration is deliberate about empowering Nigerians through infrastructure.
“The Ushafa–War College Road in Bwari done by local contractors. The bus terminals done by local contractors. That’s the policy thrust of this government: empower our own people!”
In a final swipe at those calling for protests, Wike dared them to lead from their home states not incite chaos from abroad.
“Some people say Nigerians should come out and revolt. The man saying it, I want you to lead it. Start in Rivers State not that your children are in London while you send other people’s children to the streets. Come back, come with your children, face us first!”
He assured the people that the FCT Administration will continue to listen, deliver, and expand rural roads and social infrastructure.
“Are you happy? Do you want more things? We’ll give you whatever you want. Mr. President, we are proud you have changed the narrative. Let those who don’t want to be happy stay unhappy forever. As for me, I’m always happy!”