President Bola Tinubu has distanced his administration from orchestrating leadership crisis within opposition parties to establish a one-party state and charged them to resolve their internal disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the commissioning of the newly constructed Left-Hand Service Carriageway of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) Stage II, popularly known as the Apo-Wasa Road on Friday, Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to multiparty democracy.
Responding to allegations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was fueling divisions among rival political groups, the President challenged opposition parties to put their houses in order before the 2027 general election.
Tinubu who was represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio at the commissioning, praised the administration’s focus on infrastructure, dismissing critics who downplayed the government’s achievements.
“The President told you (FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike) yesterday, do not mind those who are criticising you. Remain focused on the country to deliver.
“Nobody will remember you for the way you answered your critics. They will remember you for the legacies that you are leaving on the ground. And we are seeing the legacy,” he said.
Reflecting on the impact of recent projects, Akpabio shared a personal story, “On my part as Senate President, I happen to live very close to the Villa. And one of the beauties that I see and can’t comprehend is leaving the Villa and passing through that flyover that joins the Villa and Asokoro.
“Each time I pass there and I look down, I get a feeling that yes indeed, God is alive. I want to thank you for that construction. You said people refuse to see what you are doing.
“They will never see. But I can tell you that even the blind that walk through this Wasa Road will know Nigeria is indeed working,” he said.
The newly commissioned 7.2-kilometre road, stretching from Ring Road I Junction to Wasa Junction, is expected to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity in the FCT.
“A significant addition to the road network in the heart of Abuja. Abuja’s key transport backbone, linking the City Centre to fast-growing districts such as Apo, Gudu, Lugbe, and Wasa.
“This very vital infrastructure fully demonstrates our commitment to sustainable urban development, enhanced mobility, and improved quality of life for the people of the FCT, and by extension, all Nigerians and visitors alike,” he said.
The President commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), led by the Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, and the contractor, Messers CCC Nigeria Limited for delivering the project with “discipline, quality, and time-earned speed.”
Tinubu reassured Nigerians that the road was part of a larger national infrastructure plan, including superhighways, bridges, railways, airports, and many others.
He urged residents to protect the road and use it responsibly, saying, “Let it serve as a pathway to increased economic opportunities, safer transportation, and stronger community growth.”
