The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu is the leader capable of actualizing the “Nigeria of our dreams.”
The former two term Rivers state governor made this assertion during the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture held at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday.
Delivering his lecture titled “The Nigeria of our Dreams,” Wike emphasized that Nigeria’s developmental setbacks stem largely from poor leadership.
“The trouble with Nigeria is fairly and squarely the absence of proper leadership.”
Elaborating his assertion, Wike said, “This statement, damaging as it may appear, is extremely difficult to controvert.
“Our leaders have, in the main, emerged through self-serving conspiracies that have little or nothing to do with national interests and development. This has been the case in both military and civilian contexts,” Wike said.
Wike argued that President Tinubu has distinguished himself as a leader of character and courage, capable of confronting the nation’s challenges head-on.
In his words, “Let me make bold at this juncture to state that today, in our country, we have such a leader in the person of Tinubu.”
He highlighted Tinubu’s role in promoting democracy, recalling the sacrifices he made in the fight for democratic governance:
“He has shown in several ways and at different times, a stout commitment to the enthronement of democracy in our country, to the extent of even putting his own life on the line in the process.”
Wike further praised Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy on his first day in office:
“Leaders before him all spoke about the evil of fuel subsidy, but none had the courage to dare the blackmail of removing it. Tinubu did and is fittingly grappling with the inevitable, unintended and sometimes orchestrated consequences of this removal.”
According to Wike, the benefits of these bold reforms are becoming evident: “Today, our states have far more resources to develop, the debts are no longer piling, and the price of petrol is gradually but steadily adjusting downwards in tandem with the forces of demand and supply.”
He also noted efforts to address over-centralisation by creating zonal and regional commissions to promote grassroots development and restore true federalism.
Wike addressed the country’s security challenges, stating that Tinubu has taken proactive steps, including increased funding and training for security agencies.
“Tinubu’s approval for the recruitment of forest guards across the country means that bandits and terrorists would no longer find incubation points and free territories to operate. Put simply, the era of banditry and terrorism would soon come to an end.”
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, described Wike as a “straightforward politician” and lauded his transformative projects in the FCT.
Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, in his remark, praised the relevance of the lecture’s theme saying “At a critical juncture in our nation’s democratic journey, this lecture offers a vital platform for reflection, engagement, and forward thinking.”
The Royal Father of the Day, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, commended Wike’s forthrightness: “He is an upright politician who says things as they are. Hate him; like him, what will be will be.”