The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at politicians who once accused him of undermining the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and secretly aiding the All Progressives Congress, pointing out that many of them have now joined the ruling party themselves.
Speaking at the launch of major road works on the outer southern expressway in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike suggested that these former detractors owed him praise for smoothing their path to the APC. He highlighted the irony in a pointed remark, noting that daily broadcasts and online chatter had long painted him as a saboteur working against the PDP’s interests. “All of them are now in the APC,” he said. “So, which means if it is true, they should commend me for working for where they are heading. So, I should be commended for doing a good job for them.”
The minister’s comments come amid a flurry of high-profile exits from the PDP, which has lost ground ahead of the 2027 general elections. In the last two days alone, two governors have abandoned the party. Enugu State’s Peter Mbah quit on Tuesday, citing the move as a step towards national progress under the current administration. Bayelsa State’s Douye Diri followed suit on Wednesday, along with 19 members of the state assembly. This leaves the PDP with just eight governors, down from 11 in October 2024, marking the fourth such defection in recent months.
Wike used the occasion to laud the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, crediting him with transforming state finances for the better. He recalled his own eight years as Rivers State governor, when monthly allocations often fell short of covering wages and other essentials, forcing leaders to chase bank loans for basic operations. “Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to talk about doing projects,” Wike reflected. Under Tinubu’s firm hand, he added, states and the FCT no longer scramble for credit. “Rather, banks are now looking for states to say ‘look, don’t throw us away, we are here’.”
This shift, Wike argued, has freed up resources not just for routine spending but for ambitious infrastructure drives. No longer will incoming governors inherit crippling debts from their predecessors, a common headache in earlier times. He described the president’s approach as the visionary and decisive guidance the nation craves—one that tackles tough choices head-on, even when past leaders shied away.
Wike framed the wave of PDP defections as a natural response to these gains. “If, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr President, I think it is worthwhile,” he declared. The minister portrayed the realignments as a vote of confidence in a system that prioritises bold action over hesitation, urging all states to own up to their citizens about the improved fiscal landscape.
