“Nigeria was already ‘dead’ before Tinubu took over” – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has claimed that Nigeria was practically ‘dead’ before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, insisting that only tough decisions can revive the nation.

Wike made the statement during a thanksgiving service at St. James’ Anglican Church in Asokoro, Abuja, following the commissioning of 16 projects in the nation’s capital.

While acknowledging that Nigeria still faces enormous challenges, Wike said Tinubu inherited a broken system and is taking the hard steps needed to rebuild.

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“The country was dead,” Wike said. “It takes hard decisions to bring it back to life. We are aware that we have challenges. But after just two years of a country that had been run down, we expect a miracle worker? It’s not like a prayer where you say, ‘In the name of God, you are healed,’ and it happens instantly. It doesn’t work that way.”

The FCT minister also cautioned the Church against falling for political propaganda ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that faith leaders nearly endorsed the wrong candidate in 2023 due to sentimental attachments.

“Let me use this opportunity to address the Church – we nearly made the worst mistake in 2023. We must be very careful this time around. It would have been a decision that could have cost some of us our future. We almost made a terrible mistake in 2023,” he said.

Wike took direct aim at Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of hypocrisy.

According to him, Obi, who governed Anambra State for eight years, never conducted local government elections yet claims to champion democracy.

“Some of you have sympathy for someone you don’t even know. That’s how you nearly made us make a mistake – saying Peter Obi was going to become president. President where?!,” Wike stated. “For eight years, he was governor. He never conducted local government elections. Never. Back then, Nigerians were not angry. They were happy that he refused to conduct elections for eight good years. And you call that democracy? He was the governor and also the chairman of all the local governments. None of you asked questions.”

The minister also highlighted the recent rehabilitation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, alleging that its previous operators paid a meagre N50 million annually to the government while mismanaging the facility.

“Some people were running the Conference Centre and paying the government just N50 million annually. These same people claim they want to rescue Nigeria,” Wike said. “When we visited the Centre, Mr. President said it was an eyesore and not befitting of Nigeria. We shut it down and renovated it within six or seven months. Since then, we have generated over N700 million in just three weeks. Yet, the same people who were paying N50 million a year now say they want to rescue Nigeria. That’s what they want – when you resist them, they try to smear your image.

He further criticised politicians who had years in power but failed to deliver development, yet now claim they can rescue Nigeria.

“People who were in power for eight, even 20 years, had the opportunity to bring development to their states but didn’t. Back then, Nigerians were not angry. Now that they’re no longer in power, Nigerians are suddenly angry. If I say I want to rescue Nigeria, ask me what I did when I had the opportunity. Ask me what I did as governor of Rivers State. I can say, ‘Yes, I did this and that.’ And now, as FCT Minister, I am doing this and that,” he added.

Addressing insecurity, Wike noted that issues like train bombings and oil subsidy fraud existed long before Tinubu’s administration.

“Were the bombings of trains going to Kaduna under Bola Tinubu’s administration? No. That was before. The oil subsidy scam – was Tinubu the president then? No. But now someone has come to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ We can’t continue with a few people making billions off Nigeria. When I was governor, my state never got more than 14 billion per month. Today, some states are receiving over 50 billion monthly,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to remain patient and continue to support the government.

“All I ask of the Church is patience and prayers for Mr. President,” he concluded. “Forget those who had the chance to fix Nigeria and failed. They won’t get that opportunity again.”