The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as a leader with the political will to tackle Nigeria’s long-standing challenges.
Wike made the remarks while addressing journalists on governance in the FCT and national politics during his monthly media chat on Tuesday.
The Minister noted that although Nigerians are experiencing hardship, the Tinubu administration has shown the courage to confront problems that previous governments either ignored or lacked the political will to address.
“We are all crying. Of course, we are suffering. We are all suffering, but we are doing our work,” Wike said.
He stated that the current administration has made funds available for critical sectors, including infrastructure and the payment of workers’ salaries, stressing that effective leadership is defined by the ability to make difficult decisions.
“Money has been made available. Money has been made available for infrastructure,” he said, emphasising that “what must lead leadership is the ability to take a decision.”
The former Rivers State governor argued that the President has shown the political will required to implement reforms, noting that many of the country’s challenges accumulated over several years and cannot be resolved overnight.
“The political will to look at this and say this is bad — that was the problem,” he stated, insisting that meaningful reforms require patience and consistency.
Wike explained that his support for Tinubu was informed by his personal knowledge of the key contenders.
“I know Obi very well. I know Atiku very well,” he said, adding that he was in a position to compare them with Tinubu.
“I know what to say and what to do. I can compare them,” Wike stated.
He also criticised what he described as politics driven by sentiment rather than performance, saying he had always focused on governance instead of public displays aimed at winning political support.
“I was a governor. I have never attended birthday parties in IDP camps. I have never wanted to celebrate my birthday with homeless people simply because you want to be president,” he said.
Wike maintained that leadership should be judged by the capacity to take responsible decisions and deliver results rather than by symbolic political gestures.
