Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians not to lose faith in President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, insisting that the policies need time to deliver results and stabilise the economy.
Wike said difficult economic decisions sometimes required patience, arguing that the long-term benefits of such measures should be considered alongside their immediate effects.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, the former governor of the state defended the President’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, saying it had made more funds available to government.
He said, “By removing the fuel subsidy, he now has money.”
Wike maintained that the country had already been facing serious economic challenges before Tinubu assumed office, adding that the administration’s policies should be given time to produce the desired results.
“There are times you can say, well, if this is going to take time, it will hurt me for now, but in the long run, it will be better for us. That’s our leadership talk about,” he said.
The minister argued that leadership sometimes required taking difficult decisions in the expectation of achieving better outcomes in the future, urging Nigerians to consider the long-term implications of the reforms.
Wike also turned his attention to opposition figures, challenging former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to explain what he did for Rivers State during his eight years in office under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Atiku, you are vice president for 8 years, is it not correct? Is it not correct? Did you remember Tai people? Did you remember Ogoni people?” he asked.
The minister also took a swipe at Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, questioning the emphasis placed on his popularity on social media.
“Yes, Peter Obi everywhere in social media, everywhere in social media. Peter Obi, what did he do? No, go and ask him,” Wike said.
He argued that voters should look beyond online popularity and assess political candidates based on their records and contributions to the country.
Wike further urged residents of Tai and the wider Ogoni area to appreciate the significance of the Federal University of Environment established in the area, saying the institution would create educational and employment opportunities as it develops.
He said establishing a federal university required considerable legislative effort and warned against underestimating its potential benefits because the institution was still at an early stage.
The minister also questioned the delivery of projects promised by a previous Rivers State administration, citing a proposed specialist hospital, a polytechnic and other infrastructure.
He alleged that $39 million, which he put at about N53 billion, had been spent on one of the projects without the expected results. The specific project and the expenditure could not be independently verified from the speech.
Wike urged Nigerians to support Tinubu, maintaining that the President had demonstrated the willingness to take difficult decisions in the interest of the country.
Earlier, Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Mbakpone Friday Okpe, highlighted his administration’s efforts to support the Federal University of Environment and improve educational opportunities for students in the area.
Okpe said the council had completed the screening of postgraduate students for bursaries and grants, explaining that the initiative was intended to help them take advantage of the university’s presence in the area.
He said the council had also constructed the university’s entrance gate and a dual-carriageway within the institution, alongside a one-kilometre tarred road, to complement the Federal Government’s efforts.
The chairman listed markets and lodge facilities among projects completed by his administration, adding that several other projects were ready to commence.
These include a health centre, a modern town hall and road construction in some communities.
Okpe said the university represented an important opportunity for Tai and the wider Ogoni area, adding that the local government would continue to support its development.
