• President hints at open APC membership for FCT Minister
• Wike: 2027 anti-Tinubu coalition has already collapsed
• Obi, CUPP slam ₦39bn ICC facelift, name change as wasteful and self-serving
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday extended a symbolic olive branch to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, encouraging him to officially join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as he lauded Wike’s role in delivering key infrastructure projects under his administration.
The president, speaking at the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) in Abuja, said the former Rivers State governor, though still a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would be welcomed with open arms into the APC whenever he chooses to cross over.
“Wike is not in my party yet, but the day he changes his mind, we’ll gladly welcome him. We’ll enjoy him singing, ‘as e dey pain them, e dey sweet us’,” Tinubu quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
Tinubu Defends Infrastructure Focus
Undeterred by growing political opposition, the president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising infrastructure development across the country.
“Infrastructure is not a luxury—it’s the bedrock of national growth. We are connecting people, cities, and industries,” Tinubu said, promising continued investment in transportation, energy, education, and digital access.
Calling for community ownership of public assets, he urged Abuja residents to protect the newly commissioned road, which he said was delivered without being derailed by political protests.
Wike: Anti-Tinubu Forces Are “Deflated”
In a spirited response, Minister Wike dismissed attempts by opposition politicians to build a coalition against Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring them ineffective.
“I was thinking there would be a strong coalition. But the more the president works, the more they lose steam,” Wike said. “Now I know some people are genuinely pained. My job is to keep giving them high blood pressure.”
He described the administration’s pace of project delivery as revolutionary and applauded Tinubu’s leadership for restoring contractor confidence, citing the CGC’s road work that began without mobilisation funds.
Public Outcry Over ₦39bn ICC Renovation and Renaming
Meanwhile, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, condemned the ₦39 billion renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC), which was also renamed in honour of President Tinubu.
Speaking during a donation event at the Federal Government Girls’ College in Chibok, Borno State, Obi criticised the FCT Administration for prioritising “vanity projects” while schools and teachers continue to suffer.
“₦39 billion could have equipped thousands of schools with computers or built new ones entirely. Meanwhile, teachers in the FCT are on strike over unpaid salaries,” Obi said.
Obi donated 10 laptops, 2 laser printers, and ₦2 million for a borehole project in the school, calling on leaders to focus on youth-centered investments.
CUPP: Misplaced Priorities, Shameless Self-Glorification
Joining the criticism, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) described the ICC facelift as “brazen” and the renaming as an act of “self-glorification.”
CUPP National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, said the ₦39 billion renovation stands in sharp contrast to the original ₦240 million spent to build the centre in 1991. He accused the administration of chasing personal legacy over public interest.
“This administration is obsessed with renaming public assets after the president while ignoring basic needs like education and healthcare,” CUPP said.
The group listed other recent renamings—including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic and Barracks—as signs of a troubling pattern, and called for a full audit of the FCTA’s expenditure on the ICC.
“This is not leadership. It is a betrayal of public trust,” the statement concluded.
