Support Tinubu, get my backing, Wike tells Abuja residents in what many are describing as an audacious and arrogant statement, at a public event in Karu, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, openly declared that his support will only go to those who align with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
While flagging off Lot 2 of the Water Supply Project in Karu, Wike praised former Senator Philip Aduda and the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Maikalangu, for their contributions. He then promised the construction of a 2km road at Aduda’s request, linking the gesture to political loyalty.
His words were blunt: “Support those who have capacity to bring something to the people. Support those that government will listen to… Anybody who supports Tinubu, I will support him.”
Support Tinubu, Get My Backing – The Minister’s Condition
The statement has raised serious questions. Why should an appointed minister, not an elected representative, dictate the political direction of Abuja residents? For many, this goes beyond politics, it borders on arrogance. The people of the FCT did not elect Wike; yet he stands in front of citizens, practically issuing orders that only Tinubu loyalists will get his support.
This is not just political talk, it is a misuse of office. Abuja residents deserve fairness, regardless of party lines. By saying support Tinubu, get my backing, Wike has reduced governance to blind loyalty, ignoring the fact that FCT is home to diverse voices and political interests.
Road Projects and Water Supply Tied to Loyalty
Wike highlighted road projects completed under Maikalangu’s leadership, including Saburi Road, Kabusa-Takushere Road, and Deidei Road. He praised Maikalangu as “the only man I know… If he wins as chairman of AMAC, we will give him whatever he wants.”
But tying development projects to personal loyalty raises dangerous questions. Should basic needs like roads and water depend on who supports the President? This is where many Abuja residents find Wike’s position insulting. Infrastructure is a right, not a reward for political allegiance.
Wike Defends Tinubu’s Government
Wike attacked previous governments, saying: “We have had a government who stayed here for five years… Has any government come to say, look, we will provide you water? Did this government promise it will give you water? Have we come now to give you water?”
While it is true that past governments failed in many areas, Wike’s attempt to present Tinubu’s government as the only one that “remembers the people” feels more like propaganda than governance. His repeated message that Abuja residents must support Tinubu to enjoy benefits shows how politics is being placed above service.
The Arrogance of “Support Tinubu, Get My Backing”
It is one thing for Wike to campaign for his boss; it is another to openly tell Abuja residents that their access to government depends on loyalty to Tinubu. This kind of audacity is exactly what fuels anger among citizens. An appointed minister cannot reduce governance to a conditional bargain.
Residents are right to ask: “Is this not atrocious? What manner of nonsense is this?” Public office should serve everyone, not just those who clap for the President.
Wike’s Dangerous Message
Wike has exposed a troubling mindset in government. Instead of focusing on fair service delivery, Wike is weaponizing loyalty as a tool for support. Abuja residents deserve more than political lectures from an unelected minister. Development should not come with conditions, and governance should not be reduced to a loyalty test. The statement is not just arrogant, it is a reminder of how power can be abused when officials forget who truly owns the mandate: the people.
