2027: Tinubu Deserves Our Support For FCT Development, Etsu Kwali Declares

The Etsu of Kwali, HRH Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, has pledged the support of traditional rulers and residents of Kwali Area Council for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, saying the President deserves political reciprocity for what he described as unprecedented development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The monarch said the Tinubu administration had made significant interventions in infrastructure, traditional institutions, civil service reforms and revenue allocation to the six Area Councils, which he noted had improved governance and created new opportunities for FCT residents.

Nizassan made the declaration on Monday while speaking on behalf of the Kwali area council of Chiefs at a Rainbow Coalition Stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali, attended by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and other political and community leaders.

He said the traditional institution, comprising four greater chiefs, 15 district heads and representatives of various communities, was prepared to mobilise support for Tinubu in recognition of the administration’s interventions.

The monarch recalled that Kwali residents supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election but argued that the President had subsequently demonstrated commitment to the inclusion and development of the FCT’s indigenous population.

He particularly cited the appointment of one of the territory’s indigenes, Honourable Disalo, to a strategic national board, describing it as a significant recognition of a population that had historically struggled with limited political representation.

According to him, the appointment demonstrated the President’s willingness to address concerns over the political inclusion of FCT residents despite the territory’s peculiar constitutional status.

Nizassan also credited Wike with advancing the implementation of the legal framework establishing a full-fledged civil service for the FCT, saying the reform had expanded opportunities for indigenous people to occupy senior positions in the administration.

He cited the appointment of Florence Okonkwo as Permanent Secretary in the Transportation Secretariat and an indigene of Kwali as Acting Director of Works as examples of the emerging opportunities.

“Today, we have a civil service with promising career opportunities, a civil service that allows our people to rise to the highest levels of the career structure. For this, we are grateful,” he said.

The traditional ruler further commended the administration’s tax reforms, which he said had helped increase the FCT’s internally generated revenue from about N9 billion to more than N40 billion.

He explained that improved revenue had strengthened the financial capacity of the Area Councils, enabling them to settle outstanding salary obligations, construct roads and implement development projects.

On infrastructure, Nizassan highlighted several road projects, including the Dr Ladi Kwali Road, Sukuku-Yangoji Road, A2-Pai, Pai-Gwagwalada, Gwagwalada-Dafa and Dafa-Yangoji roads, which he said had improved transportation and connectivity across the area.

He added that the projects, alongside ongoing construction works, were expected to connect all 10 political wards in Kwali Area Council to the central ward and the FCT city upon completion.

“Within three years, the President has done what previous administrations could not achieve for us. We want to thank Mr President,” he said.

The monarch also disclosed that his appointment had received presidential approval after experiencing delays, describing himself as one of the beneficiaries of the current administration’s policies towards traditional institutions.

He praised Tinubu and Wike for upgrading traditional rulers in the FCT, noting that his elevation to first-class status had enhanced the recognition and dignity of traditional institutions in the territory.

According to him, the elevation had also created opportunities for FCT traditional rulers to participate in national engagements and contribute to discussions on the legal and institutional frameworks governing traditional institutions.

“You have restored the dignity of the people of the FCT and placed us in a vantage position to relate with our counterparts across the country,” he said.

Nizassan disclosed that he had served on more than six committees of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria following the recognition accorded traditional institutions in the FCT.

Explaining his position on the 2027 political contest, the monarch described politics as a relationship of mutual expectations, arguing that communities should reciprocate government interventions with support when their demands had been addressed.

He recalled that traditional rulers and community representatives had presented several demands during town hall meetings, project commissioning ceremonies and groundbreaking events, many of which he said had received government attention.

“Politics is a game of demand and supply. It was in this town hall that we made demands. At commissioning grounds and groundbreaking events, we made demands, and those demands have been met. It is our turn to supply.

“Be reassured that we are making a commitment this afternoon that, by the grace of God, we are behind the President, and we will throw our weight behind him like we have never done for any president. He has done his part, and it is our turn to do our part,” he said.

The Etsu Kwali also defended the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, describing them as difficult but necessary decisions aimed at addressing the country’s economic challenges and repositioning the economy for sustainable growth.

He said although the policies initially generated criticism, the President had demonstrated a willingness to take difficult decisions in pursuit of national recovery.

Nizassan concluded by commending Tinubu and Wike for providing a platform that brought traditional rulers and communities across the FCT together, saying the Rainbow Coalition initiative had strengthened engagement, unity and cooperation among the territory’s diverse communities.