At Bwari meeting, FCT minister urges residents to reject ‘political gamblers’ as APC and PDP leaders rally behind Rainbow Coalition…..
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on residents of the territory to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, insisting that they should not repeat what he described as the political mistakes of the 2023 general elections.
Wike made the appeal on Thursday during an interactive session organised by the Rainbow Coalition, comprising members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
The meeting also provided a platform for the minister to endorse former Senator Philip Aduda and other political figures operating under the coalition’s arrangement, as he urged residents to prioritise development over party affiliations.
According to Wike, the ongoing infrastructure projects across the FCT demonstrate the benefits of supporting the Tinubu administration, warning residents against politicians he described as “political gamblers”.
Recalling the outcome of the 2023 elections, the minister challenged residents to reconsider their political choices ahead of the next general election.
“The mistake we made in 2023, would we make that mistake again? If it was an error, would we make that error again?” he asked, prompting a negative response from the audience.
Wike explained that the Rainbow Coalition was formed to bring politicians from different parties together in pursuit of the interests of FCT residents, arguing that political parties should serve as vehicles for development rather than obstacles to cooperation.
“It doesn’t matter the party. After all, party is a vehicle that conveys you to where you are going. When you get there, you come down from the vehicle and you now work for the interest of the people,” he said.
He urged residents to judge their elected representatives by their performance, accessibility and willingness to address the challenges facing their communities.
Turning his attention to the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, Wike questioned whether residents had felt her impact, particularly in terms of engagement with traditional rulers, women and young people.
“Today, the people of FCT, do you feel the impact? Do you feel the presence of the senator representing FCT today?” he asked.
The minister subsequently presented Aduda to the gathering, describing the former senator as someone familiar with the needs of residents and capable of understanding their concerns.
“So, I am here today to present to you your own son. The man who understands when you are sleeping. The man who knows when you are crying. The man who knows when Gombe people are in need. Senator Philip Aduda,” Wike said.
He also linked the administration’s infrastructure drive in the territory to President Tinubu’s backing, arguing that the approval of the President was crucial to the execution of major projects.
“All these things are being done because somebody is responsible. If the person does not agree with the minister doing anything, nothing will happen,” he said.
Wike further assured residents that the Gombe-Kubwa road would be ready for use by December, expressing confidence that the project would improve movement along the route.
“Let me authoritatively tell you today, by the grace of God, this December, you will do Christmas on this road, Gombe to Kubwa,” he said.
Beyond the endorsement of political candidates, the meeting also highlighted negotiations among stakeholders aimed at consolidating the coalition’s influence in the area council.
Wike disclosed that Julius Adamu, the PDP chairmanship candidate in the last Area Council elections, had stepped down in favour of Joshua, the incumbent chairman of Bwari Area Council.
He described the decision as an example of political compromise, saying collective interests should take precedence over individual ambitions.
The minister added that he would recommend Adamu for a position in the FCT Universal Basic Education Commission, citing the need to reward cooperation among political stakeholders.
Bwari residents seek greater attention
Despite expressing support for Wike’s political intervention, a women leader from Bwari Area Council, Deborah Ayorinde, appealed to the minister to sustain his involvement in the council’s affairs.
Ayorinde described Bwari as one of the most neglected among the six area councils in the FCT, expressing hope that the minister’s intervention would help address longstanding concerns.
“Among the six Area Councils we have in FCT, Bwari Area Council is the most neglected. Because Bwari Area Council has been marginalised for long. Your arrival reawakens our hope,” she said.
She commended Wike for supporting Joshua’s emergence as chairman, recalling that the minister had previously intervened in the political arrangement involving Adamu.
Drawing on a biblical reference, Ayorinde said residents were encouraged by the minister’s involvement and appealed for continued support to ensure a smooth electoral process in the council.
“The Bible that I believe says, when the righteous person is in power, the people rejoice. We are rejoicing because we have you as our father,” she said.
She added: “Please, sir, I am here this morning to plead, to beg, to solicit. We want to win our election in Bwari Area Council smoothly.”
Ayorinde also expressed confidence that residents would support Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
APC, PDP leaders embrace coalition
The FCT chapters of the APC and PDP also threw their weight behind the Rainbow Coalition, with their chairmen describing the alliance as an opportunity to overcome longstanding divisions between the two parties.
FCT APC Chairman Tanko Yamawo recalled a time when political differences were so pronounced that members of opposing parties were reluctant to associate openly.
He recounted an incident in which a former PDP chairman declined to enter his vehicle because he feared that being seen with an APC member could jeopardise his position.
Yamawo said the situation had changed, with politicians from both parties now able to work together under the coalition.
“What you have done today is not for Aduda, Gabaya and Chiya to benefit, but all of us as politicians in FCT are going to benefit from what you have started today,” he said.
He expressed confidence that Bwari residents would support APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
Similarly, FCT PDP Chairman Ismaila Dogara declared that the Rainbow Coalition was a lasting political arrangement, adding that members of the party had embraced the initiative and were prepared to cooperate with their APC counterparts in support of Tinubu.
Dogara urged Wike to communicate the expectations of FCT residents to the President, describing the administration’s interventions as an opportunity for the territory to reciprocate through political support.
Traditional rulers highlight infrastructure needs
Traditional rulers at the meeting welcomed ongoing infrastructure projects across the territory but called for more attention to roads and other facilities in their communities.
The Sarkin Bwari, Alhaji Awwal Musa Ijakoro II, commended the administration for water projects and road construction around Tokulo, Ushafa and the Bwari-Zuba axis.
However, he appealed for the rehabilitation of the road linking the Army Checkpoint to central Bwari, identifying it as a major concern for residents.
The Esu of Bwari, Dr Ibrahim Yaro, also praised the minister’s infrastructure efforts while urging the FCT administration to address the condition of roads connecting Karu, Mpape and neighbouring communities.
In his welcome address, Bwari Area Council Chairman Joshua thanked Wike for his political support, recalling that residents had responded positively to the minister’s earlier appeal for them to support his candidacy.
Joshua said ongoing projects across the FCT had helped strengthen public confidence in the administration and pledged continued cooperation with the minister.
The meeting is part of the Rainbow Coalition’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections, as political leaders from the APC and PDP seek to consolidate their alliance and secure support for Tinubu and candidates endorsed under the arrangement.
