I’m in Abuja to fix FCT, not to fly party flags, Wike declares

Barrister Nyesome Wike, the newly inaugurated Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ruled out the idea of his impending defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as some have anticipated.

Wike, the sole opposition party representative in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet, declared he was in the FCT to bring the benefits of democracy to the territory and restore it to its former grandeur.

In his first press conference, the minister unveiled a 10-point agenda that included, among other deliverables, security, city sanitation, preservation of the Abuja Master Plan, infrastructure development, restoration of green areas, removal of shanties, blocking revenue leaks, and ground rent payments Payment, among other deliverables.

The minister gave this hint while fielding questions from newsmen on the party flags he is likely to fly as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, saying, FCT residents should be more worried about burning issues needing urgent intervention and not the party flag he will be flying.

Why should anyone be bothered about what party flag I will be flying? Ok bring the PDP flag, I will fly it, bring the Labour Party flag, I will fly it. The FCT has in this state and you think the people are bothered about the party flag I fly? I will fly the Nigerian flag and ensure the FCT returns to the dreams of the founding fathers.

“We will bring FCT back to where it ought to be. So many people have complained that this is not the FCT of the founding fathers. We must tackle the issue of security. FCT should be where people come for holidays.”

He, however, warned that the Administration under his leadership will not take excuses from security agencies as they will be provided with the required tools to work as the issue of security is germane.

The minister also disclosed that he will sanitise the city and end the raise of slums and shanties across the city.

According to him: “Abuja has turned to a slum city. Sanitation is bad with refuse everywhere. We cannot allow that. We will look at issues of waste disposals.”

“If you know you have built where it’s not supposed to be built, it will go down. Our green areas and parks must come back.

“Land racketeering days are over. Those who refuse to develop turning to land speculators will lose their lands.”

“All these are our short-term deliverables so as to bring back people’s confidence in Government.”