Wike faults FCT senator’s understanding of area councils’ challenges

File Photo: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has questioned the ability of the senator representing the FCT to understand and address the challenges facing residents across the territory’s six area councils.

Wike challenged the quality of representation at the National Assembly, urging residents to elect leaders who understand their needs and can effectively communicate their demands to the Federal Government.

The minister spoke on Monday during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada Civic Centre and an interactive session with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

He urged residents not to repeat what he described as the mistake of the 2023 general elections, calling for credible representation capable of addressing the concerns of constituents across the territory.

Questioning the senator’s understanding of the area councils, Wike asked whether the lawmaker was familiar with the challenges confronting Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji and the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

He specifically canvassed support for former Senator Philip Aduda and other candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance bringing together stakeholders across the APC and PDP in the FCT.

According to Wike, elected representatives should be accessible to their constituents and possess a clear understanding of the problems confronting the communities they represent.

The minister also called on residents to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, urging political stakeholders to mobilise voters at the grassroots.

He said, “On the day of the election, it will not be a day for market or fishing. It is the day all of us have decided to come together and demonstrate our strength through our votes. Go to the polling units, districts and communities and mobilise the people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Wike also criticised politicians opposing the Rainbow Coalition, accusing them of lacking the capacity to unite their families and communities.

He said, “Some greedy and selfish politicians do not understand what we call unity. They have no capacity to hold their space, they have no capacity to even hold their families, and they have no capacity to hold their communities. So they can open their mouths and say there is no Rainbow Coalition.”

The minister commended political leaders in Gwagwalada for setting aside their differences, saying their cooperation demonstrated that collective interests could take precedence over individual political ambitions.

Earlier, the FCT APC Chairman, Ishaku Yamawo, described the gathering as historic, saying Wike’s political intervention had brought together leaders who previously operated on opposing sides. Yamawo said political leaders who had not considered themselves brothers because of party differences were now sitting together and agreeing to work under one political platform in Gwagwalada.

He also commended the minister for reducing political tension in the area, noting that campaigns had become more peaceful, without the destruction of vehicles and other violent incidents previously associated with political activities.

Similarly, the FCT PDP Chairman, Ismaila Dogara, praised Wike for his development interventions, particularly the revival of a project that had been abandoned for 16 years in Gwagwalada.

Dogara said the cooperation among political leaders across party lines demonstrated the minister’s commitment to building consensus among stakeholders.

The Aguma of Gwagwalada, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji, also commended Wike for his contributions to the development of the FCT, saying the revival of the abandoned project underscored the importance of continuity in governance.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Kassim Mohammed, listed road projects executed by his administration in Gwagwalada metropolis, Tungan Wada, Abum-pe and other communities.

He thanked Wike for approving the establishment of a one-inch chip facility in Gwagwalada but appealed for intervention on the road linking the Army checkpoint to the Specialist Hospital.

The Gwagwalada Youth Leader and Special Assistant to the council chairman, Inuwa Guzo, also pledged the support of youths across the APC and PDP blocs for the Rainbow Coalition.

He appealed for the rehabilitation of the Gwagwalada football stadium, which he said had been abandoned for more than 25 years.