N15 billion VP house: Wike knocks Obi, says ongoing projects in FCT won’t stop
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, December 7, knocked the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi over his comments on plans to spend N15 billion on the residence of the vice president.
Obi had on Monday, faulted the N15 billion allocation for the Vice President’s residence.
Obi, in a series of tweets on his X handle, berated the plan as “shocking and disheartening”, considering the many important challenges facing our nation.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, responded immediately and lampooned Obi.
In a release issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima’s media aide, accused Obi of dancing “naked in the public square, trying to curry the attention of those who care to listen to his falsehood and warped opinions about waste.
He said: “For good 24 hours, Obi danced naked in the public square, trying to curry the attention of those who care to listen to his falsehood and warped opinions about waste.”
Pushing the narrative further, Wike said Obi is still deluding himself that he won the 2023 presidential elections, despite coming in distant third position.
Wike spoke during the flag-off of the resurfacing of roads in Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory.
He said rather than commend the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Obi and others who lost elections are busy whipping up sentiments.
Wike said: “People should commend the administration and not make statements, blackmailing and telling the public lies just like they told that they won an election when they never won any election.
“Nigerians know those who won elections through the electorates. Nigerians know those who won the election through social media let them continue to tell lies.”
Speaking of protesters, who want him removed, Wike said: “On Wednesday, somebody told me that there were some people who were carrying placards. Frankly speaking, I didn’t have time to see that, I was busy. I don’t want to be distracted. We want to be focused and deliver on the mandate Tinubu has given to us.
“One thing you must also understand is that, this is a democracy, so many people are entitled to their opinions. But what is important is, that your opinion must be in line with what is good for the people of the FCT.
“We cannot continue to do the same thing, the same way and expect to achieve different results. One of the big things about leadership is that you must be firm and bold and courageous to make a decision and we have taken decisions to make sure that our people are happy with this administration.
“We have taken a decision to make sure that we will do the best for the people as mandated by President Bola Tinubu.”
Speaking further, Wike noted: “In the policies you make, it may not favour so many people, but what is important, is the generality of people and not some people who benefit at the detriment of others. When you bring a policy that will bring change, so many people will kick against it. The few who benefit will kick against it. But when you are focused, they have no choice but to align themselves with the policies of the government.
“Don’t disturb yourself about people who were paid and they have collected the money and it ended yesterday. Nobody should be worried that people are demonstrating, if they don’t demonstrate, is it the devil that will demonstrate, people must have work to do.
“We can boldly tell Nigerians that in these few months with the support of Mr. President, this is what we have done. By the grace of God in the one year in office of President Tinubu, Nigerians will see what Tinubu has done in FCT. And that is what we stand for. By May 29, 2024 FCT will roll out its achievements.
“No contract will be awarded without funding. If we do not have the money, we will not be awarded the contract.
“Let me tell Nigerians, you must commend the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigerians forget easily, as by the time we came on board all the contractors abandoned their work. Today you can see that all the contractors have returned to the site.
“We must try as much as we can finish all projects or at least 80 per cent of projects that were awarded by the previous government because the government is continuous.
“There were projects that were awarded in 2001, 2010, 2015, these projects have been abandoned. Do you expect us to abandon the projects?
“Even if the building of the Vice President which will gulp N15 billion is not to be used by the Vice President, it should not be abandoned. The Visiting head of state can use it.
“We did not award that contract, it was awarded in 2010 and all we are doing because of our policy of not leaving other projects to be abandoned, we thought we should continue with the projects.
“Look at the Millennium centre, it was awarded in 2001, it was abandoned and we thought that such a project was necessary to be completed.”
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