President Bola Tinubu has praised the appointment of Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), calling it one of the best decisions of his administration.
Channels TV reports that speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja on Wednesday, Tinubu made the remarks during the inauguration of the extension of the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) and the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) to the Southern Parkway.
“As we celebrate this achievement, it is crucial once again to acknowledge the concerted efforts of the FCT Minister, Chief Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and his team, and all stakeholders involved, including private sector partners,” Tinubu said.
He lauded Wike’s dynamic leadership, noting, “As I said the last time, Wike is a force of human nature. Love him, hate him, but you cannot ignore him because at every point in time, he is striving to redefine the meaning and concept of leadership. Wike is one of the best appointments ever made in the history of the current democratic dispensation in this country.”
Tinubu highlighted how Wike’s appointment has garnered widespread praise, even from initial skeptics. “All my brothers and sisters who opposed his (Wike’s) appointment are now hailing him. He is an exemplary leader, worthy of emulation by us all. He is a very mercurial partner; unfortunately, leadership has turned down that tempo.”
Reflecting on Wike’s shift from his previous political style, Tinubu added, “The whole political space is populated by careful friends. But now he has stopped dancing, he has stopped singing, but he is still performing.”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the only opposition figure serving in Tinubu’s administration. His appointment last August caused ripples within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but Tinubu stood by his decision.
Wike was a central figure in the G5 group of PDP governors who supported Tinubu and opposed the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 election.
