By Akinwale Kasali
Intimidated by the popularity, power and authority reposed on Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, by President Bola Tinubu which enabled the Minister take control of the management of the International Conference Center, ICC, from Senator Ahmed Abubakar Moallahyidi, a Northern Group under the aegis of Arewa New Agenda, ANA, has called for Wike’s immediate sack.
The Group lambasted Wike, alleging that he is an intruder with a vested interest in the political space of 2027.
ANA said the dictatorial nature of Wike has shown following the alleged forceful takeover of International conference center, ICC, under the management of their leader, Sen. Ahmad Abubakar Moallayidi, who incidentally happens to be the Managing Director of Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd (IFMSL) – the contracting firm managing ICC. It called the take-over a pure disgrace of the tenets of democracy.
At a Press Briefing in Abuja, the Group cautioned President Tinubu to be wary of Wike’s political maneuvers that is pitching a tent of political allies to work against him.
Prof Usman A. K, Deputy Chairman of the Group who addressed journalists on behalf of the group, reiterated that Wike is depicting the government of President Tinubu in bad light and creating confusion where none exists.
According to him, Wike is an unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who placed a curse on himself should he leave the PDP.
“Being in the main opposition party, he might, as a presidential candidate of his party, be pitched against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Undermining the Tinubu administration the way he is currently doing, therefore, would, in such scenario, serve him well.”
Usman described the administration of the FCT Minister as ruled by nepotism and insisted Wike is dancing naked in the Village Square.
He said ANA is known with a routine public engagement in support of the Tinubu Administration- going back several months before, during and after the 2023 Presidential election.
But he, however, said the press conference by a worrisome dimension that crept into the body-politic of the Tinubu administration and is eating deep like a cankerworm into the fabric of the nation destroying trust between the people and the APC led Federal Government.
The statement reads in part; “The name Nyesom Wike has become synonymous with controversy and un-guarded pronouncements not-minding whose ox is gored and what the larger consequences may be.
“This summarizes the character of the person who sits as the Minister of the FCT in the current administration. As an outsider in government, ordinarily this man should have been the humblest man in this government with a pleasant disposition and kind words. This unfortunately is not the case. The case is that Wike is projecting himself as the lord of the manor and a knight in a shining armour driven by nepotism, conceitedness and narcissistic posturing.
“You will recall that long before the electioneering process for the 2023 general election took firm roots, ANA, in the spirit of fairness, has been in the forefront of projecting northern values of fairness, trust and friendship and rallying support of northern Nigeria for Tinubu.
“Data from the last six election cycles indicates that the north control 73% of votes that makes anyone President in Nigeria. Arewa New Agenda helped in getting majority of these votes for president Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last Presidential election in the country”, the statement stated.
ANA said it is on record to have convened series of dialogue sessions to support key policies of the Tinubu Administration such as poverty reduction, peace and peaceful coexistence, removal of oil subsidy and benefits of the renewed hope agenda.
The statement further reads: “ANA has been engaged in the support and promotion of good policies and actions of the Tinubu Administration under the leadership of our convener, Sen. Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi who incidentally is the MD of Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd (IFMSL) – the contracting firm managing the International Conference Center in Abuja (The ICC).
“The Minister of the FCT, in his usual element, recently took to the media saying he has revoked the management contract of the ICC and threatened to shut it down. This action of the minister is irregular, devoid of due process and without regard for fair hearing”.
The Group also alleged that Wike in purporting to terminate the management contract between IFMSL and Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) exhibits ignorance of what the ICC as a global standard Event Centre stands for.
It added that the ICC is the No. 1 event center in Nigeria. It is the go-to venue for international organizations having events in Nigeria.
Usman said that at the time of Wike’s purported revocation of Integrated Facility Managers management contract of the ICC, a number of international organizations have booked the ICC for their events. These bookings are for the whole year ending December 2024. The threat of the Minister to close down the ICC has impacted negatively on these bookings which are third-party contracts with clients locally and internationally. The threat also hampers international business; drives away foreign investment and kills growth and business prospects at a time the country needs these the most.
“It is worth noting that the facility managers of the ICC – Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd, has remolded the ICC to meet global standards. By IFMSL remolding of the ICC, the Centre is now a flexible venue that can be customized to client’s specifications. The facility depicts opulence and refined aesthetics of the modern world.
“In the circumstance, it is very distressing hearing Wike saying he is going to renovate the ICC when no assessment has been carried out and no performance audit has been done in the ICC. As it stands today, the ICC is in its best form delivering first class and five-star services to its clients. To embark on a so-called renovation at this time is to engage in a wasteful exercise. If it is not broken, why mend it?
“We hasten to state that the ICC is managed by Integrated facility managers under a subsisting management contract with Abuja Investment Company ltd, that has provisions on how the contract could be terminated. Without recourse to the management contract provisions on termination, the FCT Minister took to the air announcing he has terminated the contract. This action of the minister is irregular, against fair hearing and the rule of law and unhelpful to the Tinubu administration. Simple: The FCT Minister cannot do what he is threatening to do because it is against the law, fair dealings and has no place in governance and service delivery.
It added that Wike’s despotic and nepotic profiling of the north, going after the businesses and social interest of individuals and groups that are Bonafede APC members is unhelpful to the Tinubu administration and paints the picture of one undermining his master in a veiled effort to feather his political nest against 2027.
“By his actions, Minister Wike is pitching the Tinubu administration against Nigerian citizens by depicting the government in bad light and creating confusion where none exists. Minister Wike is an unrepentant member of the PDP who placed a curse on himself should he leave the PDP. Being in the main opposition party, he might as a presidential candidate of his party, be pitched against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Undermining the Tinubu administration the way he is currently doing therefore would, in such scenario, serve him well.
“By this we will go any length to seek for justice and fight for our rights. We are party men and women who supported this government against all odds yet what we see now is a show of hatred for those that love Tinubu and our Great. We can’t accept these charades”, the statement reads.
