President Bola Tinubu has publicly invited Nyesom Wike to join the All Progressives Congress, calling him a strong leader and saying the party would be happy to have him whenever he decides to switch sides.
Tinubu made the comment on Wednesday during the commissioning of major roads in the Katampe District of Abuja. He acknowledged that Wike isn’t officially in the APC yet, but said the door is wide open.
“We have somebody in Wike. He’s not in our party, at least not yet. But if he ever decides to come over, we’ll be glad to welcome him,” Tinubu said, joking that they’d all celebrate together with the phrase, “as e dey pain them, e dey sweet us.”
Wike, on his part, seemed fully aligned with the president. He dismissed any opposition alliance that’s trying to unseat Tinubu in 2027, saying it’s already a lost cause.
“Mr. President, your performance has already ended that coalition. They’ve failed. I didn’t know some people could be this pained. Now that I know, my job is to keep giving them high blood pressure,” Wike said.
The comments came during a 17-day celebration of Tinubu’s second year in office, organized by the FCT Administration. On Tuesday, the President had commissioned the renovated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre. On Wednesday, he inaugurated the new Arterial Road N16 and others in Katampe.
Tinubu used the occasion to talk about his government’s development goals. He said infrastructure was a top priority and not just something nice to have. Roads, rail, electricity, healthcare, education, and digital tools, all are getting investment under his Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This isn’t just a road project. It shows we’re serious about transforming urban areas. Since coming into office, we’ve been focused on reform and renewal. Today, that work speaks for itself,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that national growth depends on the quality of infrastructure connecting cities, people, and industries. “You can’t drive industrialisation without good roads,” he added.
Tinubu also praised how communities affected by the new roads were relocated peacefully. He thanked traditional leaders for working with the FCT Minister to avoid conflict during the project.
Wike, speaking next, said the President’s track record had restored confidence among contractors. Many of them, he said, have started work without waiting for upfront payments.
“That’s the kind of trust your leadership has built. None of the contracts you’ve approved in the FCT will be abandoned. By your third year in office, almost every project will be completed,” Wike promised.
Also speaking was the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, who thanked the President for backing the city’s development plans. She gave credit to Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the National Assembly. She also praised Wike for what she called his visionary leadership.
Providing a technical breakdown of the new road, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Dauda, said the Arterial Road N16 is a six-lane dual carriageway stretching about 3.7 kilometers. It connects Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway at Nicon Junction to Wole Soyinka Way, passing through Katampe District, and includes two interchanges.
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