Wike Defends Tinubu’s Reforms, Says Hard Decisions Needed To Move Nigeria Forward

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the removal of petrol subsidy has strengthened the financial capacity of states and local governments despite the hardship faced by Nigerians.

Wike spoke on Saturday at a town hall meeting with stakeholders of the Rainbow Coalition in Bonny local government area of Rivers State, where he urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

He said successive administrations had acknowledged the unsustainability of the petrol subsidy regime but failed to abolish it because of the political consequences, describing Tinubu’s decision as an example of courageous leadership.

“Each time a president comes, fuel subsidy is a scam. What have you done with it? Another president will come, fuel subsidy is a scam. What have you done? Nobody has been able to take a courageous decision,” Wike said.

According to the minister, Tinubu understood that ending the subsidy would impose hardship on citizens but considered the sacrifice necessary to put the country on a sustainable development path.

“He said, ‘I know that the decision I am taking would be strong. There are advantages and disadvantages. It will cause a lot of hardship, but this hardship is a sacrifice that would make our country move forward,’” he added.

Wike acknowledged the rising cost of petrol and other essential commodities but argued that the increased revenue available to the three tiers of government had created opportunities for accelerated development.

He claimed that states now receive at least N15 billion in monthly allocations, excluding other revenue inflows, although he did not provide a breakdown of the figures.

The minister compared the current revenue position with his experience as Rivers State governor, recalling that federal allocations were significantly lower when he assumed office in 2015.

He challenged state and local governments to translate the additional resources into tangible improvements in infrastructure, education and other public services.

Wike also linked the improved financial position of governments to industrial relations in the university system, claiming that public universities had not embarked on strikes during the three years preceding his remarks.

He argued that the financial constraints associated with the previous subsidy regime had contributed to recurring industrial disputes and disruptions to academic activities.

The minister maintained that economic reforms should be assessed beyond their immediate impact, insisting that difficult decisions were sometimes necessary to secure long-term national progress.

“Sometimes, it requires leadership that can take decisions that are so hard and necessary for the progress of the organisation, the kingdom or the country,” he said.

Wike, who is coordinating Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State and the FCT, also cited the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road as evidence of the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development.

He said the road had ended years of uncertainty over access to Bonny, where residents and visitors had often depended on boats and helicopters to travel, with journeys sometimes complicated by tides and rough waters.

According to him, successive administrations had made promises to deliver the road without completing the project until the current administration.

“The advantage is that we can now go by road to Bonny. Administrations have come, and this road has become a political road. It is not today. So many governments have said, ‘We will try,’ but thank God, under the administration of the present president, this road has been completed,” he said.

The minister urged voters to assess political leaders based on their records in office rather than campaign promises, criticising opposition politicians whom he accused of seeking higher office without sufficient achievements to justify their ambitions.

He also questioned the management of public funds under the previous Rivers State administration, citing the proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, the state’s monorail project and the sale of a power plant.

Wike alleged that $39 million was spent on the proposed hospital without the project progressing to the foundation stage.

He also referred to the sale of a power plant to Sahara Energy for $308 million, claiming that only $308,000 remained in the relevant state account when he assumed office in 2015.

Earlier, Wike visited the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, at his palace as part of his engagement with traditional rulers and community stakeholders.

The minister said the meeting was intended to discuss developments in the country and encourage residents to make informed political choices ahead of the 2027 general election.

He urged traditional rulers and community leaders to engage their subjects on governance and development, stressing the need for public policies to reflect the priorities of the communities they were designed to serve.

In his response, the monarch welcomed Wike to Bonny Kingdom, describing their relationship as longstanding and acknowledging the minister’s contributions to the community’s development.

He recalled Wike’s support for efforts to establish the Bonny Polytechnic during his time as a minister, as well as his involvement in addressing security concerns and advancing the Bonny-Bodo Road project.

“The minister has been of complementary support to us, ranging from when we tried to establish the Bonny Polytechnic. He played a major role towards having this polytechnic started at the time he was minister,” the monarch said.

He described Bonny Kingdom as strategically important to Nigeria, noting that its contributions to the country’s economic development deserved greater recognition.

The monarch also commended Wike’s emphasis on project delivery and his continued engagement with Rivers State and its people.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, Se-Alabo (Amb.) Lt. Col. (rtd.) Dagogo Soala Claude-Wilcox, invited Wike to the 30th anniversary of the monarch’s coronation, scheduled for December 21, 2026.

Claude-Wilcox said the celebration would mark three decades of the monarch’s leadership and recognise his contributions to unity and development in Bonny Kingdom.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Rainbow Coalition, George Tubara Tolofari, commended Wike for facilitating reconciliation among members of the group following a period of internal division.

He said reconciliation meetings held in Port Harcourt and Bonny had brought together members of previously opposing political camps, including those associated with the defunct Simplified Movement.

“I want to tell you that we are all one together as one big, indivisible family,” Tolofari said, expressing optimism that the renewed unity would strengthen the coalition.

The chairman of Bonny local government area, Abinye Blessing Pepple, also highlighted government initiatives relating to infrastructure, empowerment and economic opportunities in the area.