Wike as FCT minister

“As e dey sweet you, e dey pain dem, Wike with your designers, e go dey pepper dem.” The dateline was Ogbum Na-Abali Sand Fill’s inauguration in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. Nyesom Wike was, as usual, decked in an Italian slim-fit jacket, a designer frame, and his trademark bowler hat. And he regaled the audience with words that elicited rounds of laughter.

There is something about the former governor of Rivers state, now honorable minister of the Federal Capital Territory. I have heard commentaries about his appointment. The one that cracked me was a picture with Wike in a pose and a caption asking if the PDP Secretariat in Abuja has a Certificate of Occupancy.

It was such a funny but instructive one that the Federal Capital Territory administration is about to experience something different. I can only pray that he comes with his hype-men from Port Harcourt to give flavor to every move he makes. Excuse me; you don’t have to like his signature.

Wike once narrated a story of how a friend called him and said there was a day they were watching the television. Wike was the topic and her husband asked that the channel be changed repeatedly as all channels discussed Wike. She said, “Why are you angry like this, so because you are angry with Wike, we won’t watch the television again; why not do what he is doing so that all stations would carry your topic.”

As funny as this might sound, that is the quintessential Nyesom Wike for you. You don’t have a choice but to like him because he says things the way they are, and he matches his words with actions. I am not sure there is any contractor that can collect money and not do his job very well because ” agreement is agreement.”

I am excited that Wike is coming to the FCT, and did I hear you say, ” Wike dey come oh” Yes, Wike is here as the FCT minister. All those principalities that have distorted the master plan of the city should brace up for a fresh challenge. It would be an operation to restore the FCT.

He won’t bend, and he won’t quit. It is either you do the right thing, or you forget about it. That is what is needed in the federal capital territory because it is such a shame that this city is what it is because previous administrators did not understand that the FCT is the face of the country and what is needed is to put the city in good stead, and befitting of a country like Nigeria.

If you have previously manipulated the system, be ready to correct your documents or lose the property. If you have been denied any opportunity because your leg is not “strong enough,” change has come because Wike is for the people.

I am glad that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his wisdom, gave Nyewom Wike the task of resetting the Federal Capital Territory. The basic principles behind Land Administration in Abuja include the need to ensure:-national integration in residence and business ventures, adequate availability of essential services to the inhabitants of the people in terms of food and other services as well as a functional city at all times, the integration of the local inhabitants of the FCT into the mainstream of not only the economic but also social life of the city. The observance of the relevant provisions of the Land Use Act, the FCT Act, and other applicable laws.

It is essential to highlight some of the challenges of land administration and management within the FCT. They include but are not limited to policy inconsistencies, mainly as they affect resettlement programs, lack of political will to execute comprehensive resettlement policy and programs, and extreme pressure from individuals seeking allocation within service areas of FCC as a result of non-provision of infrastructural facilities in most of the planned areas, among others.

If you know Nyesom Wike, you would be excited about this golden opportunity to reset the federal capital territory. He would hit the ground running with policies and programs to bring about the needed change to the federal capital territory that Nigerians would be proud of.

At the ministerial screening, Nyesom Wike said, “Given the hunger with which the president wants to solve the problem of Nigeria, I am here to give him that support, and the president won’t regret this decision.”

I need to say this; Nyesom Wike meant every word he said that day, and in the days and months ahead, the residents of the FCT would witness strategy and action at play. There would also be laughter in abundance because he would work and tease. He would leave no stone unturned. The Senate President attested this much: ” Distinguished Senators before you is a man that needs no introduction. You could feel his passion and love for this country as he spoke.

And the deputy senate president spoke, “I was in Rivers state when the president went to commission some legacy projects. I was amazed that I thought that I missed my way. I was impressed with the delivery in important sectors in the state that I thought I was outside the country.”

And the three senators from Rivers state said he remains a worthy ambassador, role model, and one of the best from Rivers state. That is Nyesom Wike for you. Now that he is the Honourable Minster of the Federal Capital Territory.

Let me sign out with this rendition” A biggie man na biggie man, e no dey for size oh, a biggie man na biggie man” “morale, morale eh, nobody getty morale like Wike” Wike dey come oh, Wike dey come oh.”