Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he relies on his wife’s prayers for continued support from President Bola Tinubu, stressing that such backing is essential for ministers to deliver on their mandates.
Wike spoke on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Water Supply Network to Bwari Satellite Town in Bwari Area Council.
According to the minister, the administration has so far officially inaugurated 50 projects and plans to commission 10 more before January.
“This is the 50th commissioning of project.
“So, I’m talking of official commissioning. I’m not talking about the unofficial ones. And before January next year, God willing, we’ll commission another 10 projects before we’ll go for campaigns,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of presidential support, Wike said his previous experience as a governor and minister had taught him that performance in office depends largely on the backing of the President.
“I’ve said to so many people, I was a governor, and I was a minister before. You can be a minister… you see, if you don’t have that support, it is difficult for you to perform. You must have that support,” the former Rivers State governor said.
The minister disclosed that he often tells his wife to keep praying for Tinubu’s continued support for the FCT Administration.
“And that’s why, each day I wake up, I tell my wife—she prays a lot, I don’t know how to pray very well. The only best prayer I can pray: ‘God, let me come back safely today.’
“But she prays very well. I say, ‘Continue to pray that Mr President will not look away from us.’
“And Mr President has given FCT all the support required to change the narratives. And that’s why we, on our own part, say we will not disappoint Mr President. We are happy for the support, and we’ll continue to do everything to make sure that the people of FCT are also happy,” Wike said.
The minister also said governance should improve the lives of citizens, adding that this was what the Tinubu administration was striving to achieve.
“When people are happy, those in authority will be happy. But when people are not happy, those in authority are bound not to be happy. After all, what is governance? Governance is to make people happy, to make changes in their life, to make it better. And that’s what Asiwaju Tinubu is doing,” he said.
