FCT Minister Nyesom Wike declared that Nigeria was “dead” before President Tinubu took office, insisting only tough reforms can revive the nation.
He accused Peter Obi of hypocrisy for not conducting local government elections as governor and warned faith leaders against making politically sentimental choices ahead of 2027.
Wike highlighted the revenue turnaround at the Tinubu International Conference Centre and urged Nigerians to be patient, saying past leaders who failed won’t get another chance.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that Nigeria was in a dire state before President Bola Tinubu took office, emphasizing that only bold and painful reforms can revive the nation.

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Speaking during a thanksgiving service at St. James’ Anglican Church in Asokoro, Abuja, following the commissioning of 16 projects in the capital, Wike defended the Tinubu administration’s policies, arguing that the president inherited a failed system.

“The country was dead,” Wike declared. “It takes hard decisions to bring it back to life. We are aware that we have challenges. But after just two years of a country that had been run down, we expect a miracle worker? It’s not like a prayer where you say, ‘In the name of God, you are healed,’ and it happens instantly. It doesn’t work that way.”

He also used the opportunity to caution faith leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging them not to fall for propaganda or make politically sentimental decisions like in 2023.

“Let me use this opportunity to address the Church – we nearly made the worst mistake in 2023. We must be very careful this time around. It would have been a decision that could have cost some of us our future,” he warned.

Wike didn’t hold back in his criticism of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, whom he accused of political hypocrisy.

“Some of you have sympathy for someone you don’t even know. That’s how you nearly made us make a mistake – saying Peter Obi was going to become president. President where?!” he said. “For eight years, he was governor. He never conducted local government elections. Never. Back then, Nigerians were not angry. They were happy that he refused to conduct elections for eight good years. And you call that democracy?”

Turning to recent developments in Abuja, Wike referenced the rehabilitation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, accusing its former operators of mismanagement and underpayment.

“Some people were running the Conference Centre and paying the government just N50 million annually. These same people claim they want to rescue Nigeria,” he said. “When we visited the Centre, Mr. President said it was an eyesore and not befitting of Nigeria. We shut it down and renovated it within six or seven months. Since then, we have generated over N700 million in just three weeks.”

He urged Nigerians to question the credibility of those who had long held power without delivering meaningful change.

“People who were in power for eight, even 20 years, had the opportunity to bring development to their states but didn’t. Back then, Nigerians were not angry. Now that they’re no longer in power, Nigerians are suddenly angry,” Wike said. “If I say I want to rescue Nigeria, ask me what I did when I had the opportunity.”

Addressing concerns about insecurity and the removal of fuel subsidies, the FCT Minister reminded citizens that many of the issues predated Tinubu’s administration.

“Were the bombings of trains going to Kaduna under Bola Tinubu’s administration? No. That was before. The oil subsidy scam – was Tinubu the president then? No. But now someone has come to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ We can’t continue with a few people making billions off Nigeria.”

He also pointed out that many states are receiving significantly higher federal allocations than before, yet criticisms persist.

“When I was governor, my state never got more than 14 billion per month. Today, some states are receiving over 50 billion monthly,” he stated.

Wike concluded his remarks by appealing for continued support for the Tinubu administration.

“All I ask of the Church is patience and prayers for Mr. President,” he said. “Forget those who had the chance to fix Nigeria and failed. They won’t get that opportunity again.”