The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged residents of the territory to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying his administration has given the FCT recognition and institutional autonomy denied it for decades.

Wike said the President had demonstrated uncommon political courage by taking difficult decisions to reposition the country, despite the possible political consequences, adding that his reforms were aimed at moving Nigerians away from what he described as a life of economic pretence to reality.

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The minister spoke on Monday at a rainbow coalition town hall meeting in Kwali Area Council with traditional rulers, political leaders and elected council representatives in the FCT, where he highlighted what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration in addressing the longstanding political and administrative challenges confronting the territory.

He said: “The kind of decisions the President is taking or has taken is not what an ordinary politician would take, knowing fully well the consequences. And that is what they call leadership”.

Wike argued that the President had taken concrete steps to correct the historical imbalance in the political and administrative structure of the FCT, insisting that residents should assess his administration based on its actions rather than political rhetoric.

He particularly cited the establishment of an FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of an indigenous Head of Service and the implementation of administrative autonomy as significant milestones.

According to him, the President also directed that the FCT should move away from the Treasury Single Account arrangement to enable the territory to manage its resources and accelerate development.

“Today, you have your own Head of Service. The President said you should have your own Head of Service, and today you have it. Get away from the Single Treasury Account. You have no business to be there. It impedes your development. Stay, run your money and develop the FCT,” he said.

The minister said the Tinubu administration had also demonstrated commitment to ensuring that indigenes of the FCT were given opportunities to participate in the country’s governance and decision-making processes.

He lamented that despite the territory’s estimated population of between six and seven million, it had only one senator, unlike some states with smaller populations that have three senators.

Wike, however, said the current administration had begun addressing the situation by giving the FCT greater political recognition.

He recalled that residents of the territory had for decades been denied meaningful representation at the highest level of government, adding that the appointment of an FCT indigene to the Federal Executive Council was a significant departure from the past.

“Nobody has remembered you or appoint any of your sons and daughters to be representatives of the country, where decisions are being taken. It was until this President came and said no, it is not fair. That is recognition; you don’t buy it,” he said.

The minister also criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who served for eight years under the previous administration, over what he described as the failure to address the political and administrative demands of the FCT during his tenure.

He asked whether the former Vice-President established an FCT Civil Service Commission, appointed an indigenous Head of Service, facilitated the appointment of an FCT indigene into the Federal Executive Council or elevated traditional rulers in the territory.

“He was there for eight years? Did he give you the Civil Service? Did he give you the Head of Service? Did he allow you to appoint somebody from the FCT to the Federal Executive Council? Did he elevate your chiefs? So, how can he come back today and ask for your votes?” Wike asked.

He urged residents to consider the implications of their electoral choices, stressing that political parties should be regarded as vehicles for development and good governance rather than instruments for personal interests.

“The party is a vehicle that you enter. It should show you where you are going. When you get there, you talk about development and good governance and how things will be better for your people,” he said.

Wike also commended political leaders in the FCT, particularly the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for agreeing to work together in the interest of the territory.

He described the emerging political cooperation as a positive development, arguing that political differences should not prevent leaders from collaborating to improve the lives of residents.

“Politics is all about development. Politics is all about good governance for the people. When two strong parties in the FCT agree to work together in the interest of their people, they should be commended,” he said.

The minister further disclosed that the Rainbow Coalition had commenced mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election, promising financial incentives for councillors who successfully deliver their respective wards.

He announced that councillors who deliver their wards for the President would receive N10 million each as support for their mobilisation efforts.

“Every councillor that delivers his ward, go and take N10 million. That is the support from the President,” Wike said.

He urged the councillors to return to their communities, engage political leaders and mobilise residents, insisting that grassroots political structures would be crucial to the President’s electoral success.

Wike said the coalition was determined to translate its political support into votes, adding that its members must demonstrate commitment beyond public declarations.

The minister also called for greater inclusion of women in the political structure of the FCT, expressing concern over the low number of women among elected councillors.

He said he was disappointed to learn that only two women were among the 62 councillors in the territory, urging political stakeholders to create more opportunities for women in elective and appointive positions.

“I am not denying the men their jobs. I am only saying that our wives and our mothers should be part of the system,” he said.

Wike also raised concerns over the remuneration of FCT councillors, describing their reported salaries as unacceptable.

He promised to engage the relevant authorities, including the Permanent Secretary and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, to explore ways of addressing the issue.

The minister urged the council chairmen and councillors not to allow political office to make them lose touch with the people, reminding them that their continued relevance depended on their performance and accessibility.

He drew from his experience as a former local government chairman and president of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), saying political fortunes could change when elected officials failed to meet the expectations of their constituents.

“Don’t allow the goodness of the office to enter your head. Remember, every politician will be marked. When your tenure is over, your people will clap for you if you have done well, but if you have failed them, they will come and take you away,” he warned.

He said he was prepared to take difficult decisions, including cancelling contracts, where contractors failed to deliver, stressing that his priority was to ensure that projects were completed for the benefit all.

Wike urged FCT political leaders, traditional rulers and elected representatives to sustain their cooperation, saying collective efforts were necessary to secure development and good governance in the territory.