Wike, Shinning Light In Tinubu’s Cabinet, Says Niger Delta Group

Edith CHUKU

Youth leaders and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region have described the Minister of FCT, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, as a shinning light in the cabinet of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led federal government.

Speaking under the aegis of the Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress NDYCPP, the group charged Tinubu to hold Wike tight, insisting that the FCT Minister is a dependable ally that will not betray him(Tinubu).

The group expressed these in a statement made available to TNN on Tuesday by its National President, Pastor Teidor Jude Olayinka, Mr. George O. Mogbitse and Mr. Owunano Harry, on behalf of the conveners of the Niger Delta Leaders without Borders.

They described Wike as a very detribalized person, a goal-getter, visionary leader builder of men and institutions, urging leaders and political watchers, particularly those from the South-South to support him to enable him do more for the country.

The statement explained that “after a well-attended youth leaders/stakeholders meeting at the instance of the Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress, on the 25th of March 2024, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital, to appraise current socio-political developments in the Tinubu-led Federal Government; youth leaders across ethnic divides in the Niger Delta have unanimously thrown their support and solidarity behind the workaholic Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Barr. E.N. Wike.

“This is following his focused and impressive leadership strides: despite all the reckless mischievous political catcalls and wild denigrating tantrums cast at him by his ubiquitous detractors.

“We have taken our time to assess the Tinubu Cabinet from when it was constituted till date and come to the unequivocal assertion that Wike towered above all, notwithstanding his numerous political fights, both from the PDP and his home state, Rivers State.

“Wike is a very detribalized person; he is someone who goes for competence and just like Mr. president, he always meticulously engages people who have the capacity to deliver on given assignments, no matter where they are from.

“He is a goal-getter, a builder of men and institutions, a visionary leader, one of the emerging frontline political leaders from the South-South Geo-political Zone; a mass mobilizer, a political colossus that is making giant strides in our nascent democratic dispensation.

“Wike’s avid commitment in spreading the dividends of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President can be attested to, even by his die-hard critics. The speed with which he is carrying out projects and programmes in the FCT that is touching the lives of the people positively is clear, even for the blind to see. He is a proven political ally of Mr. President and a shining light in his cabinet.”  

NDYCPP in the statement explained that the FCT Minister “is bringing out components of the Abuja master plan that were hitherto unknown to the public and as well implementing them accordingly. He is very courageous and astute in building political bridges across party lines effectively. He is a known voice in our national democratic discourse.

“He has helped to influence the appointment and employment of a lot of qualified Niger Delta Sons and Daughters into very sensitive positions of responsibility; respective of tribe, creed and political cleavages.”

They further enjoined leaders and political watchers everywhere, particularly those from the South-South to rally their support to him to enable him do more for the country, assuring that “as for us, the Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress and the 32 leaders and respected stakeholders from the Niger Delta region, we commend the Hon Minister of FCT Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike for promoting regional unity.

“We appreciate your good works especially the way you’re transforming the FCT, and as an ambassador from the region who is making us proud, we will continue to support your course.”

NDYCPP added that, “in as much as we appreciate Mr. President in his efforts by spreading development to every part of the country, especially the Niger Delta, through such interventionist agencies like the NDDC, we have observed with concern some obvious bureaucratic and red-tapism bottlenecks in the wheel of progress at the NDDC, such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy which is adversely affecting the Commission’s activities from carrying out projects and programmes at record timelines.

“We implore Mr. President to take a second look at the policy as it relates to the NDDC and make necessary adjustments that will free up funds for massive developmental targets.

“We commend Wike for how he is relating with the leadership of the National Assembly and other top key Government functionaries at the National level.

“We want to, at this junction, caution all those bad-belly people who were antagonistic to Wike’s emergence as the Minister of the FCT, especially our brothers from the North, to shelve their needless attacks but rather support him to succeed in building a beautiful FCT for the country in which we shall all be proud of.

“As for us from the South-South, we will continue to pray for him to succeed, to set a new record of achievement that shall be a positive reference point for posterity.”