Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly rejected speculations that unseen hands or influential figures are dictating the affairs of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
According to Wike, the president has consistently demonstrated strong leadership and personal command over the country’s governance.
Speaking on Thursday in Ile-Ife, Osun State, during the 2025 OAU Distinguished Personality Lecture, Wike stated unequivocally that President Tinubu operates without interference from any “cabal” and remains fully in charge of the administration’s direction. “He has shown that he has the courage. Under Tinubu, there is nothing like cabal. This is a president that is in charge,” Wike declared.
The minister, who is a trained lawyer and previously served as the governor of Rivers State, delivered the keynote lecture at the event.
In his address, he drew comparisons between Tinubu and past Nigerian leaders, asserting that previous presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, lacked the boldness required to address the nation’s long-standing economic challenges.
He particularly praised President Tinubu’s decision to eliminate the petrol subsidy and merge the nation’s multiple foreign exchange windows, decisions that Wike said had eluded his predecessors. He argued that if not for these actions, a fraudulent network benefiting from subsidy scams would still be operational today.
While acknowledging that Nigeria has struggled to reach its full potential since gaining independence over sixty years ago, Wike remained hopeful that the country can still thrive if the right leadership structures are implemented. He emphasized the need to restore trust in governance and foster unity among the country’s diverse ethnic and cultural groups to move the nation forward.
He reminded Nigerians that the ideal country they dream of will not materialize by chance. “Let us leave for the next generation resolves and not regrets,” he stated, stressing that achieving the Nigeria everyone desires will require visionary leadership, deliberate effort, sacrifice, and commitment from every citizen.
In a direct rebuke to those questioning his competence and calling for his dismissal as FCT Minister, Wike dismissed such criticism as baseless. He asserted that those making such claims are misguided and fail to recognize his capacity to lead effectively.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s stance on accountability, particularly with regard to property obligations in the FCT. The minister made it clear that those owing ground rent in Abuja must fulfill their financial responsibilities. He added that enforcing such obligations is a matter of governance and not a cause for panic or undue controversy.
The lecture event was graced by several notable personalities, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and ex-governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, among others.
What you should know
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike praised President Tinubu’s decisive leadership, particularly on subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification, while refuting claims of a cabal running the presidency.
Speaking at OAU, he emphasized national unity and civic responsibility, insisting that reforms must be backed by commitment from all Nigerians.
