Abuja, Nigeria – What began as a routine project inauguration in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday quickly took a sharp political turn, as President Bola Tinubu publicly extended an invitation to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The event, meant to celebrate the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16 to Arterial Road N20 in Abuja’s Katampe District, became the stage for a significant political overture, hinting at strategic realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A Political Alliance in the Making?
While lauding the FCT Minister for his performance, President Tinubu made it clear he would welcome Wike, a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), into the APC fold. Adopting a playful and provocative tone, the President alluded to the discomfort Wike’s alliance with the APC-led government has caused the opposition.
“We have somebody in Nyesom Wike. He’s not a member of our party, not yet,” Tinubu stated. “But the day he changes his mind and registers with the progressives, we will welcome him. Because we will join him in singing, ‘as e dey pain them, e dey sweet us’.”
In his response, Minister Wike dismissed the viability of any opposition coalition aiming to challenge President Tinubu in 2027, declaring their efforts dead on arrival.
“Mr President, your good work has killed the coalition. The coalition is bound to fail, and it has failed,” Wike declared. He added, “I was watching [the news]. I didn’t know that people can be pained. And now that I know that such people are pained, my duty now is to continue to give them high blood pressure.”
Infrastructure as a Cornerstone of Governance
The political drama unfolded against the backdrop of the Tinubu administration’s second-anniversary celebrations, which have heavily featured the inauguration of infrastructure projects. President Tinubu framed the new 3.7-kilometer, six-lane road as a tangible outcome of his government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
“Infrastructure is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It is the bedrock of national competitiveness, growth, social integration and economic opportunity,” the President remarked, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to investing in roads, rail, power, and other critical sectors.
The President also took a moment to commend the FCTA for the peaceful relocation and compensation of indigenous communities affected by the road construction, emphasizing a development approach that respects local populations.
Minister Wike assured the President that the confidence instilled by his administration has motivated contractors, promising that no project awarded under the current FCT leadership will be abandoned. He expressed confidence that all ongoing projects would be completed before the administration’s third anniversary in 2026
