Politics: Wike’s Worth In Tinubu’s Eyes Soars Higher As Abuja Falls ‘Yakata’

 

By PHC Telegraph

President  Bola Tinubu has expressed complete satisfaction with the official performance of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike saying his handling of affairs within Abuja contributed to APC’s convincing win in the municipal council elections

The President’s reaction is coming against the backdrop of APC’s ongoing celebration of the outcome of some elections conducted by INEC in parts of the country  on Saturday.

Observers say Wike had staked everything on the table when he said prior to the elections that pro-Tinubu candidates would be the only ones to win.

The opposition parties and civil society organizations fired back, saying the dynamics of politics in Abuja are not the same with what obtains in Rivers State..

On Friday, the Minister declared a public holiday that is at the centre of growing controversy.

Abuja has never experienced such a gesture and commentators responded to the announcement, saying Wike had no such powers. That evening, Wike made another move. He slammed what was seen as a curfew on the city, restricting movements at night.

Some are blaming Wike’s pre-election actions for voter apathy in the federal territory while some critics, including opposition supporters are heaping the blame for their poor performances in the Abuja electiions on poor candidate selection by their leaders.

Low voter turnout recorded in previous elections averaged 9℅ in the FCT. But this year voter turnout was slightly higher. 15℅ of the voter population in Abuja participated.

Meanwhile, Wike who has praised the President for the smooth conduct of the elections has explained that he truly does not have the, power to make such orders but he said the President, Bola Tinubu, authorized same.

APC’s stunning performance in the federal territory, the first of its kind has obviously attracted attention and also vindicated the Minister under whose watch the APC captured five out of six chairmanship seats on the ballot.

“It has not happened before”, a pro-Wike sympathiser remarked, ” It was litmus test of Wike’s growing influence in Abuja. The President has accepted this publicly. “

Bayo Onanuga, the Presidential spokesman said in a statement that President Bola Tinubu was elated by the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election.

Tinubu paid glowing tribute to INEC’s management, APC’s leadership at the national level and the states – Kano and Rivers – where the elections held.

He thereafter singled out the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for special mention, praising his unique role in the development of the city and the political positives it had on voter behavior.

The President noted that Wike’s accomplishments in Abuja had rubbed off positively on the APC.

“President Tinubu commends the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his remarkable achievements in the territory, which have yielded political dividends to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC)”, Bayo Onanuga said.

He added, “The President congratulates the APC national leadership, Kano and Rivers leaderships, and all members of the party on the victories at the polls. “

As the celebration in APC circles continue and opposition parties return to the drawing board to map out strategies, local administration in Abuja is aligned to the centre.

An FCT resident who looked at the trend from the past told this publication in Pidgin English, “Abuja fall ‘yakata’.”