The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has commended political stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gwagwalada for setting aside their differences to promote unity, cooperation and development in the territory.
Wike made the remarks on Monday during an interactive town hall meeting with APC and PDP stakeholders, held alongside the commissioning of the Gwagwalada Civic Centre in Gwagwalada Area Council.
Commending political leaders in the area for putting aside their differences, Wike said their decision to work together demonstrated that the collective interests of residents were more important than individual political ambitions.
He criticised politicians opposing the Rainbow Coalition, accusing them of lacking the capacity to promote unity within their families and communities.
“Some greedy and selfish politicians do not understand what we call unity. They have no capacity to hold their space, they have no capacity to even hold their families, and they have no capacity to hold their communities. So they can open their mouths and say there is no Rainbow Coalition,” he said.
The minister challenged critics of the alliance to explain why political leaders who had previously disagreed could not come together to pursue common interests.
He described the political development in Gwagwalada as a departure from confrontation, arguing that the FCT needed cooperation rather than unnecessary political hostility.
Wike also urged residents to avoid repeating what he described as the mistakes of the 2023 general elections, calling for effective representation at the National Assembly.
He said the territory needed representatives who understood the challenges facing residents across its six area councils and could effectively communicate their concerns to the Federal Government.
Questioning the effectiveness of existing representation, the minister asked whether the senator representing the FCT understood the challenges confronting residents of Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
He specifically canvassed support for former Senator Philip Aduda and other candidates endorsed by the coalition, stressing that political representatives should be accessible and familiar with the needs of their constituents.
Wike also declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, urging residents to mobilise at the grassroots and translate their political endorsements into votes in 2027.
“On the day of the election, it will not be a day for market or fishing. It is the day all of us have decided to come together and demonstrate our strength through our votes. Go to the polling units, districts and communities and mobilise the people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Earlier, the FCT APC Chairman, Mr Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, and his PDP counterpart, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed Dogara, described the gathering as historic, saying Wike’s political intervention had brought together leaders who previously belonged to opposing camps.
They commended the minister for his development interventions, particularly the revival of a project in Gwagwalada that had reportedly been abandoned for 16 years.
The two party chairmen also praised Wike for helping to reduce political tensions in the area, noting that campaigns had become more peaceful, with fewer incidents of vehicle destruction and other forms of violence previously associated with political activities.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mr Kassim Mohammed, highlighted road projects executed by his administration in Gwagwalada metropolis, Tungan Wada, Abum-pe and other communities.
He thanked Wike for approving the establishment of a one-inch chip facility in Gwagwalada but appealed for intervention on the road linking the Army checkpoint to the Specialist Hospital.
A former chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mr Zakari Angulu Dobi, recalled that the civic centre was nearly 80 per cent complete when he left office but was subsequently vandalised during the 16 years it remained abandoned, reducing its completion level to about 40 per cent.
He commended the incumbent chairman for reviving the facility, describing its completion as a victory for residents regardless of their political affiliations.
Also speaking, Mr Adamu Mustapha Danze urged FCT residents to reciprocate the attention given to the territory by President Tinubu and Wike by supporting them at the 2027 polls.
The Gwagwalada Area Council Women Leader, Hajiya Hajara Abdullahi, assured the minister of women’s support for President Tinubu, Aduda and other APC candidates. She also appealed for the establishment of a cottage hospital to complement existing healthcare facilities.
The Gwagwalada Youth Leader and Special Assistant to the council chairman, Mr Inuwa Guzo, pledged the support of young people across the APC and PDP blocs for the Rainbow Coalition.
He also appealed for the rehabilitation of the Gwagwalada football stadium, which he said had been abandoned for more than 25 years.
