Nyesom Wike,Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has threatened to unseat an unidentified lawmaker for criticising his successes as the FCT Minister.
It was on Monday July 1, 2024 that Wike issued the threat during the launch of the construction of Mabushi Bus Terminal, Phase I, in Abuja. Which was performed by the Speaker House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas as a riposte to the criticism meted on the FCT Administration by Kingibe, during Arise News THISDAY LIVE show.
He said that he overheard somebody, a lawmaker in the National Assembly in Arise TV in the morning, questioning the successes being recorded in FCT.
The minister said that the lawmaker particularly condemned the rot in schools and the absence of quality hospitals in the territory.
“You, as a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sector?
I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular, in 2027 come and run under Abuja, we will fail you.
“Do you think that what happened last time will happen again? It will not happen again.
“Luckily for me, I am the FCT Minister now. So that is my territory and I’m not afraid,” he said.
Wike continued: “With all due respect, what you don’t know, you don’t know, what you know you know. The good thing for you is to tell people you don’t know when you don’t know, then people will educate you.
He added, “The Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud and I have not been in office for more than 11 months and the person is angry that people are praising us.
“If you don’t want or you are angry about that, go and hang yourself in a transformer.
“If we have done well; we have done well. If we haven’t done well; we haven’t done well. I’m proud to say that in the short time that President Tinubu has appointed us, we have done well.”
The minister warned that if the unidentified lawmaker was angry with the praises they were receiving for doing a good job, “by next year, your blood pressure level will go very high.
“This is because the praises you would see would be too much.” he said.
In a related development, Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP-FCT), who appeared on Arise TV on Monday complained that she was being sidelined in the running of the FCT.
Kingibe particularly claimed that her constituency was being marginalised, adding that there was no clean water for the residents of Abuja.
She also said that roads being constructed across the FCT were not addressing the needs of the majority of the people, namely healthcare, water, education and security.
He said the FCTA had a problem with the plan for the Central Business District location because there was misrepresentation of Abuja Master Plan as the land which was earmarked for the bus terminal and where the trains would pass through, had been given out likewise C of O given out.
In his remarks, Abbas described the construction of the Mabushi Bus Terminal as a serious step towards developing transportation infrastructure in the FCT and ensuring residents can commute safely and efficiently.
He lauded FCTA for its inclusive strategy that promotes balanced growth and development and ensures that the infrastructure and economic advancements reach all communities, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
Abbas said to enable Abuja to compete with the world’s leading cities, integration of advanced technology in urban planning and management was crucial, while smart city initiatives can enhance the efficiency of services and improve the quality of life for residents.
