Former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, has called on Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Tinubu and the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, in their drive to restore the Abuja masterplan and instill discipline in urban development.
The former deputy speaker said those who have lived in Abuja since the return of democracy in 1999 can attest to the deterioration of the capital city by illegal structures taking over public spaces, green areas illegally allocated by unscrupulous officials to cronies just as areas for public facilities like fire services/ police stations were also allocated to individuals.
Nwuche questioned the rationale behind a capital city not having available spaces for the construction of fire service and police stations.
“This was especially under the immediate past minister under whose watch parts of Abuja became like slums, the streets were dirty and unkempt, a clear reason why unqualified persons should never be appointed to public offices on the basis of nepotism and tribalism,” Nwuche said. He commended President Tinubu for making the right decision in picking Wike who he said is a known achiever and who performed exceptionally as the immediate past governor of Rivers State.
“He brought development, infrastructure to all local governments and cities in the state,” Nwuche said of Wike.
He described Wike as a detribalised and nationalistic individual who will treat all Nigerians equally.
“The appointment has restored the faith of many Nigerians in our unity, equality as Nigerians and a departure from the nepotism of the past where certain portfolios were reserved for only a part allowing the capital city to fall apart.
“No country that desires development should listen to archaic and unexposed persons, be they clerics, former government officials, etcetera who prefer only those from their tribe and religion should hold sensitive offices including the defence and security portfolios in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. When one walks into a Nigerian airport, police stations, immigration offices, among others, one should see a reflection of our diversity and all tribes fairly represented. Not the one where at immigration services, police, customs, etc you’d see a preponderance of one tribe and one religion. These are the issues that have held Nigeria down,” Nwuche said.
He called on people of goodwill to speak up and not allow retrogressive minds drive down their parochial and divisive agenda.
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