Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has indicated that he would consider appointing the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to his government if he were to become president. However, Adebayo stipulated that such an appointment would come with a caveat: strict limitations on the minister’s public commentary.
Adebayo conveyed these views during an interview with Symfoni, where discussions spanned various topics including governance, the performance of President Bola Tinubu's administration, and recent political developments, including the Osun State election.
While acknowledging Wike's dedication to his duties and crediting him with spearheading significant infrastructure projects within the FCT, Adebayo expressed reservations regarding the minister's public communication style and his approach to political disagreements.
According to Adebayo, the former Rivers State governor’s strong work ethic is one of the qualities he particularly admires. "I respect Wike for one thing: that he has a good work ethic. He can work," Adebayo stated.
He further observed that the scale of work currently underway in the FCT under Wike’s leadership favourably compares to the achievements of some of the minister’s predecessors. Adebayo contended that the state of Nigeria’s infrastructure would see substantial improvement if commissioners of works across all states demonstrated a similar commitment to project execution.
Nevertheless, the SDP candidate raised questions concerning the cost and overall value of some of the projects being undertaken by Wike's administration, suggesting potential concerns over contract pricing and the value for money. Despite these reservations, Adebayo conceded that tangible infrastructure projects are indeed being executed, and residents of the FCT are experiencing the positive impact of this work.
"As an FCT resident, travel has become easier," Adebayo remarked, acknowledging the visible improvements he attributed to the ongoing projects.
Conversely, Adebayo criticised what he perceived as Wike’s method of public communication and his handling of matters involving the exercise of state power. He argued that the minister’s distinctive style could inadvertently convey an undesirable message to young Nigerians regarding the appropriate manner in which political disagreements should be managed within a democratic framework.
Adebayo voiced his hope that Wike would recognise the transient nature of political power and that democratic governance ought to be founded on institutional strength and civility, rather than the overt projection of force.
Furthermore, Adebayo appealed to the media to confine its coverage of Wike primarily to issues directly related to his responsibilities as FCT Minister. He asserted that affording the minister extensive platforms to comment on matters outside his official purview could potentially diminish the dignity associated with his office.
In Adebayo’s view, Wike should concentrate on his duties within the FCT and, where necessary, communicate any support for the President privately, rather than through public exchanges. Adebayo reiterated his willingness to consider Wike for a ministerial position in his prospective administration, citing his proven capacity to work, but stressed his intention to control Wike's public statements. "If I was in my own government, I can appoint Wike, but I’ll put a little tape in his mouth," he humorously added.
Despite his criticisms, the SDP presidential candidate still hailed Wike as the "number one performing minister" in the Tinubu administration, primarily due to the accelerated pace of infrastructure development observed in the FCT. He maintained that any reservations he held about Wike’s political demeanour did not detract from his positive assessment of the minister’s work ethic and evident engagement in FCT projects. Adebayo concluded that the fundamental distinction, from his perspective, lay between Wike’s ability to deliver projects and what he regarded as his approach to public political discourse.