Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has said he joined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration because he was sure it would give Nigerians dividends of democracy.

Wike assured fellow Nigerians that most of the nation’s challenges would soon fade out. 

The minister urged fellow Nigerians to be patient with the current administration.

Wike spoke at a thanksgiving service for the successful completion of projects and their inauguration at the Diocese of Abuja (Anglican Communion) St. James’ Church, Asokoro, Abuja.

President Tinubu, he said, has achieved a lot within two years in office. 

The FCT minister described President Tinubu as very interested in governance, adding that the President gave the ministers marching orders to ensure the nation’s progress.

He urged the church to continue to pray for President Tinubu and those working with him. 

Wike urged the church to shun politicians and past leaders who are only interested in their personal gains.

The FCT minister said those who have formed a coalition on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are out to destroy the country.

He queried the group’s credibility and asked for its motive.

Wike said: “Let me tell you, if the Tinubu government had not worked, I would not have supported it. FCT residents and Nigerians in general, everybody can attest to the changes Mr. President has introduced in the FCT. Before now, it was difficult for FCT to access funds. Mr. President, in his wisdom, made sure that we were pulled out of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which has been stagnating the development of the FCT.

“Today, we can see the projects because we are no longer operating under the TSA.

“Let me use this opportunity to tell you, particularly the church, you nearly made the worst mistake in 2023. We have to be very careful this time round. It would have been a decision that would have cost some of us our future.

“Ask us questions. We are the politicians. You have to be careful about what we tell you. If nothing had happened, some of us would not be here today. Don’t allow people with propaganda to blackmail you. Now, see what happened. The Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre; you know, some people were running it. They were paying the government N50 million every year, and these are the people who want to rescue Nigeria.

“When we went there, Mr. President said this is an eyesore. He said this is not the quality (the place should have), this is not the Nigeria we should present. And we shut the place down. Now, within six or seven months, we have rehabilitated the International Conference Centre.

“But do you know the shocking thing? The man who was running it was paying N50 million to the government in a year. But now, three weeks after renovation and continued activities there, we have generated over N700 million.”

“That’s the kind of thing they want. When you say no, we will not allow that, they paint you all kinds of pictures and tell you stories. People had the opportunity to be in government for several years – eight years, 20 years. People had the opportunity to bring facilities and infrastructure to their states, but they didn’t do it. At that time, Nigerians were not angry. It is only now they are not in office that Nigerians are angry.

 “If I say we want to rescue Nigeria, what you should ask me, when you had the opportunity, is: what happened? If you ask me today about when I was governor of Rivers State, what happened? I am able to say yes, I did this, I did this, I did this. Today in the FCT, I’m able to do this, this, this, and that. We were here when people were bombing trains to Kaduna. Was it under the administration of Bola Tinubu that the trains were bombed? That time, they did not rescue Nigeria.

“The country was dead; it would take hard decisions to be made. We are aware that there are challenges. Two years in a country that was run down, and we expect a miracle worker. It is not prayer where you say somebody is sick: in the name of God, I heal you. It doesn’t work that way. 

“You are now confessing the changes because you have a government that is determined to make changes. If the Bola Tinubu government was not interested, it would be the same thing. But because it is interesting to say, this is not the kind of capital we should have; this is not the kind of city Nigerians should be proud of. We have to be like other cities in the world. Yes, we cannot say we have completely changed Abuja. But you can see that the processes and the steps are being taken to put Abuja where it’s supposed to be.”