President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has revealed that he jokingly warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that he could lose his position if his policies did not align with the political interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a Sallah homage led by Wike and a delegation of prominent FCT residents, Tinubu recounted a conversation where Wike sought his approval to remove the FCT from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to facilitate financial flexibility and infrastructure development.
“I remember the day Nyesom Wike came to me and said, ‘Please, take us out of this problem of Treasury Single Account (TSA) so that I can do more work and achieve more,’” Tinubu recalled.
The President said he then challenged Wike on the potential political implications of his request.
“And he presented it, and I threw in my own political guide: ‘Would that give me any opportunity for my party (APC) to win the election in FCT?’ I said, ‘I know where you are coming from—your own party (PDP) or my party. If this thing goes too much in your own favour, you will lose your job.’ Then he said, ‘Okay, we settle that, Oga.’”
Despite the lighthearted remark, Tinubu commended Wike for his transformative leadership in the FCT, praising his initiatives in infrastructure, health, and education.
“He came up with a lot of good ideas to liberate the bureaucracy, bring forward-looking, progressive thinking to the administration, and provide opportunities for many who would have been hindered by property rights,” Tinubu stated.
The President highlighted key achievements under Wike’s leadership, including the revitalization of the Vice-President’s abandoned residence, the rehabilitation of healthcare centers, and improvements in school infrastructure and teacher welfare.
