Tinubu Is Nigeria’s Best Leadership Option, Says Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that President Bola Tinubu remains the most credible leadership option for Nigeria, saying no other potential presidential contender has shown the courage to tackle the country’s longstanding economic challenges.

Speaking during his monthly media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, Wike defended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy, describing the decision as one of the boldest policy actions taken by any Nigerian president in recent decades.

According to the minister, although the reforms have caused temporary hardship for many Nigerians, they have significantly improved the financial position of state governments, increased funding for infrastructure and reduced states’ dependence on bank loans to pay workers’ salaries.

“Asiwaju is the only person we have now. He has not done everything, and nobody says he has, but he has shown the courage to take decisions others refused to take. Give him credit for that,” Wike said.

‘Economic recovery takes time’

Wike argued that Nigeria’s economic problems accumulated over many years and cannot be resolved within a short period.

“When problems have accumulated for over 15 years, people expect them to be solved in one year. It doesn’t work that way. Healing takes time, but it will happen,” he stated.

Defends subsidy removal

The FCT minister described the former fuel subsidy regime as “a cancer,” recalling that during his tenure as governor of Rivers State, dwindling federal allocations often forced the state government to borrow from banks to meet salary obligations.

He maintained that the removal of subsidy has increased revenue available to states, enabling them to meet key financial commitments.

“The fuel subsidy consumed over ₦3 trillion at a time. Today, states receive more money. Pensioners are being paid, governors no longer queue before bank managers to borrow money just to pay salaries, and there are more resources for infrastructure,” he said.

‘Leadership requires difficult decisions’

Wike stressed that effective leadership is measured by the willingness to make difficult but necessary decisions rather than seeking popular approval.

“Everybody agreed that subsidy was a scam, but no president had the political will to remove it. President Tinubu took that decision. No decision is 100 per cent perfect, but leadership is about taking responsibility,” he added.

The minister’s remarks come amid continued public debate over the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms and the country’s rising cost of living.