Amaechi accuses Tinubu-led govt of failing Nigerians
With recent high-profile defections still sparking discussions, President Bola Tinubu yesterday heightened political excitement, fuelling speculation about a possible switch by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The remarks came during the commissioning of the newly completed N16 Arterial Road in Abuja.
Addressing dignitaries, government officials, and residents at the event, Tinubu lauded Wike’s leadership, calling him a “team player” and a “performer.”
“Wike is not a member of our party, not yet,” Tinubu said with a knowing smile. “But the day he changes his mind and registers with the Progressives, we will welcome him. We will join him in singing, ‘as e dey sweet us, e dey pain dem.’”
The statement, met with laughter and applause, has been widely interpreted as an olive branch and possibly a prelude to Wike’s eventual crossover to the ruling APC, a move that could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tinubu’s remarks came after Wike’s spirited speech, in which the minister declared that President Tinubu’s performance had “killed the coalition” of opposition critics. He commended the president for restoring public trust in government by funding and completing infrastructure projects with exceptional speed and transparency.
The N16 road project, connecting Shehu Shagari Way to Wole Soyinka Way and featuring a major interchange, was described by the president as “more than a stretch of asphalt.” Tinubu portrayed it as a testament to the “Renewed Hope” agenda and a symbol of infrastructural equity and national unity.
“This project affirms our commitment to urban transformation,” Tinubu said. “What was once a missing link is now a modern, functional, and durable infrastructure. Infrastructure is not a luxury; it is a necessity, the bedrock of economic opportunity.”
The president lauded Wike and the FCT team for their efficiency and collaborative governance, reinforcing the perception that Wike — a former PDP stalwart and one of Nigeria’s most influential political figures — is increasingly aligned with APC’s agenda.
Tinubu also used the occasion to send a pointed message to the opposition.
“No matter how much the naysayers pursue the politics, we will continue to serve the people,” he said. “We are building a new Nigeria: brick by brick, road by road, promise by promise.”
The commissioning of the N16 road is part of a broader rollout of FCT projects under Wike’s leadership, including arterial connections to key districts like Katampe, Jahi, Mabushi, and several judicial and administrative hubs.
Earlier, in a fiery and unapologetically political speech during the ceremony, Wike credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s delivery of key infrastructure projects, particularly in the FCT, as the final blow to what he described as a fractured and bitter opposition movement.
“Your good work has killed the coalition,” Wike said pointedly, referencing the growing momentum of the APC-led government against a backdrop of criticism from political opponents. “They wake up every day, tune to every television station, and all they see is Mr President commissioning one project or another. They have no choice but to watch; and it’s giving them high blood pressure.”
The N16 road, completed within eight months of being awarded, is the latest in a series of strategic infrastructure successes in the capital city.
“This project wasn’t inherited. It was conceived and completed under this administration, within record time,” Wike emphasised. “When critics talk, we answer with results,” he added.
The minister’s comments were a direct reference to criticisms against Tinubu’s administration as he noted: “Some people were born to never be happy. But for those who have eyes to see, the truth is glaring. The people are celebrating. Projects are being delivered. Confidence has returned to governance,” he said.
Wike pointed to the changing dynamics in the construction sector as further proof of restored confidence in government. Contractors, he revealed, have begun executing jobs ahead of formal approvals—a rare show of trust in Nigeria’s historically unpredictable payment systems.
“This extension was only approved a month ago, but CGC finished it before the papers came out,” Wike said, referencing the Chinese construction firm responsible for the project. “That’s what your leadership has done. It has killed doubt. It has killed delay. And yes, it has killed the coalition.”
PDP accuses APC govt of eroding democracy
The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed concerns over what it described as the decline of democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
During an interaction with journalists yesterday, Timothy Osadolor, the PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, and Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, compared the current government’s actions to the authoritarian tendencies of past military regimes.
Osadolor highlighted the irony in President Tinubu’s governance style, given his pro-democracy activism during the NADECO era.
“President Tinubu was one of the early frontliners among the NADECO people who fought for June 12. That was the democracy we are currently enjoying today,” Osadolor said.
He questioned whether Tinubu has now become a “replica or a more complex version” of the military regimes he once opposed.
Osadolor cited several instances of democratic backsliding, including the alleged disregard for court orders, the weaponisation of state institutions, and the undermining of local government autonomy.
“We have seen brazen attempts to stifle democratic tendencies in the land, unlike during military rule. Court orders are flagrantly disobeyed and discarded,” he stated.
He also referred to the situation in Rivers State, where a sole administrator appointed by the President reportedly appointed other sole administrators in local governments, in defiance of multiple court rulings.
Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, echoed these concerns and promised to issue a formal statement.
When asked for further comments, Ologunagba said, “Are we practising democracy now? Is this democracy, cronyism, or individualism? We’ll issue a statement. Don’t worry about that.”
Dele Momodu warns of looming civilian dictatorship
Two-time presidential aspirant and Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Dele Momodu, has raised concerns about Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the country is veering towards a civilian dictatorship.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief yesterday, Momodu expressed dismay over the current political climate, particularly as Nigeria approaches Democracy Day.
He said, “I’m very happy that today coincides with the lead-up to June 12 (Democracy Day), so that if we still have any iota of conscience left, we’ll realise we have damaged this democracy.
“The summary of it all is that on the eve of June 12, Nigeria is virtually back to civilian dictators who don’t care how you feel or what you think. Nigerians are hungry.”
Momodu criticised government officials and institutions for neglecting the people, accusing them of arrogance and indifference.
“We’ve damaged this democracy, and I hope we’ve not damaged it beyond repair because the audacity, the effrontery of this set of politicians, whether in the executive, legislature, or local government, is totally unbelievable,” he said.
He lamented that those who fought for Nigeria’s democracy during the June 12 struggle would be heartbroken if they could witness the current state of affairs.
“All those who suffered for this democracy, especially those who are now in heaven—if they can see us, they would be crying,” he added.
Turning to the crisis within the PDP, Momodu blamed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for allegedly causing turmoil in the party.
“It sounds ridiculous that one man, who should be busy in Abuja, is dictating where the PDP presidential ticket should go in 2027. What Wike is doing is a rehash of what he did in Rivers State—and he is clearly doing so with the backing of those at the top,” he said.
Momodu questioned Wike’s role in the June 12 struggle, stating, “Where was Wike during the June 12 struggle? Who knew him then? But today, he speaks as if he’s the founding father of Nigeria.”
Amaechi accuses Tinubu-led govt of failing Nigerians
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of failing to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and member of the All Progressives Congress, expressed his willingness to join a coalition to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Despite his party affiliation, he maintained his commitment to speaking truth to power.
In an interview with the BBC, Amaechi accused Tinubu’s administration of exacerbating economic hardship in the country.
“If the government is failing the country, you don’t just go along because you’re in the same party. You know that’s not right,” Amaechi stated.
Highlighting the plight of Nigerians, the former minister said, “People are dying. People are starving. I myself am feeling the effects of hunger.”
Amaechi, who recently marked his 60th birthday in Abuja, is believed to be aligning with an opposition coalition seeking to unseat Tinubu in the next election.
Prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Governor Nasir El-Rufai attended the celebration. During the event, Amaechi, Atiku, and El-Rufai accused Tinubu of “weaponising poverty” to the detriment of Nigerians.
