Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have applauded the developmental stride of the minister, Nyesom Wike in less than nine months in office.
The natives said Wike’s record has not been attained by other minister of FCT since the inception of the Territory.
A major FCT stakeholder, Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, who stated this on behalf of the natives on Wednesday in a press briefing, said although Wike’s appointment appeared strange to many party faithful with an opposition party chieftain given the Federal Capital to govern as a minister, he affirmed that he has performed wonders, unlike any same party ministers.
He said that as far as the FCT is concerned, this is the first developmental wonder that any minister of the FCT has ever performed in less than nine months of being appointed as minister.
“That somebody from an opposition party would be able to execute and complete over nine projects in just less than one year in office, more than the projects that any minister of the FCT have been able to execute in all the years that Abuja has been on the ground, which is more than 40 years. It is unbelievable.
“So, we commend him for having an interest in developing the FCT and ensuring that natives and residents are comfortable and safe in the territory. We are hoping that this developmental zeal from the minister will continue till the end of the administration.
“Tinubu did not make any mistake in appointing him as FCT minister despite different party affiliations. Initially, it was a big surprise to us when he appointed him and asked him to lead the FCT because we wondered how he would be able to perform as an opposition party member,” he said.
Dara who is also an FCT All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart, said that the developmental stride of the FCT minister has boosted their morale while appealing to the minister and his team to continue working as a team and forget those talking about antiparty activities, saying they should work for Nigerians and not party.
“However, we are calling on the federal government to give us our autonomy. We do not want people from outside Abuja to come and govern us anymore. We want to continue from where Wike will stop as a minister and lead our people ourselves so that everyone can stay happily in Abuja.
“There are many qualified natives and residents of the FCT that can be appointed as minister of the FCT, who would take proper development to the rural areas, not just only in the urban areas. The senior citizens we have in the FCT can perform developmentally like the present minister. So, we should be given our autonomy to lead ourselves,” he said.
He said the natives want peace to reign in the FCT, which is why they are appealing that they do not want anybody from the north to be appointed as FCT ministers anymore because the people want their autonomy as natives.
He further said that it would be in the best interest to manage FCT on corruption transparency and accountability, and that would be achieved when sincere democracy is on the ground.
“It is better to do it now than wait to turn Abuja into a battleground. Hence, we have just noticed a cold war on appointment between the North and Southerners, the worst will be when God gives the indigenous people of Abuja the strength to restore our legitimacy.