Tinubu recalls how he jokingly threatened to sack Wike over political interests

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday jokingly warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that he would lose his job if his policies did not align with the political interests of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The President made the remarks at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when Wike led a delegation of prominent FCT residents on a Sallah homage to mark the end of Ramadan fasting and the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

Tinubu, who recalled an interaction with Wike, said the minister had requested the removal of the FCT from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to enable greater financial flexibility for infrastructure development.

He said: “I remember the day Nyesom Wike came to me and said, ‘Please, take us out of this problem of Treasury Single Account (TSA) so that I can do more work and achieve more.”

The President said he questioned how such a move would benefit the APC’s electoral chances in the FCT.

“I threw in my political guide: ‘Would that give me any opportunity for my party (APC) to win the election in FCT?’” Tinubu said.

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The President added that he reminded Wike of his political background as a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“I said, ‘I know where you are coming from, your party or my party. If this thing goes too much in your favour, you will lose your job.’ Then he said, ‘Okay, we settle that, Oga,’” Tinubu remarked, drawing laughter from the gathering.

Despite the lighthearted exchange, Tinubu commended Wike for his performance as minister, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, health, and education.

“He came up with a lot of good ideas to liberate the bureaucracy, bring forward-looking, progressive thinking to the administration, and provide opportunities for many who would have been hindered by property rights,” the president stated.

He listed key achievements under Wike’s leadership to include the revitalization of the Vice President’s residence, which had been abandoned for years, the rehabilitation of health centers and improvements in healthcare services for FCT residents, and the upgrade of school infrastructure and enhanced teacher welfare programmes, among others.

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