Wike Renews Political Confrontation With Uzodimma Over Rainbow Coalition, Speaks on Fubara

This post has already been read at least 1138 times!

….Dismisses Influence On Okorocha Court Judgment

…..Takes On Opposition Over Billboard Charges, ASUU Over UniAbuja Land

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has renewed his political confrontation with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, over the Rainbow Coalition, questioning his opposition to the political arrangement and dismissing suggestions that he influenced the court judgment recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.

Wike, who also took on opposition political parties over the rising cost of billboard advertisements in Abuja and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over the disputed reallocation of land belonging to the University of Abuja, maintained that neither political pressure nor threats of industrial action would force the FCT Administration to abandon its policies.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, the former Rivers governor challenged Uzodimma to explain why he was uncomfortable with the Rainbow Coalition, an arrangement bringing together political interests from different parties in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

What Is Hope Uzodimma Afraid Of In Rainbow Coalition? — Wike

The minister’s remarks came against the backdrop of growing political differences over the coalition and the October 29 Federal High Court judgment recognising Okorocha, rather than Uzodimma, as the APC candidate for Imo West, a development that has generated fresh controversy over political alignments in the state.

Wike, who has openly defended the coalition as a platform for mobilising support for Tinubu, questioned why a governor belonging to the President’s party would oppose an initiative whose stated objective was to strengthen the President’s re-election prospects.

“What is Hope Uzodimma afraid of in the Rainbow Coalition?” he asked.

He argued that politicians and political groups could support the same presidential candidate without necessarily belonging to the same party or agreeing on candidates for governorship and legislative elections, insisting that such differences should not be interpreted as opposition to Tinubu.

Wike also faulted reported attempts to discourage political actors in Imo State from identifying with the coalition, maintaining that political participation should not be restricted merely because individuals belonged to different camps.

I Did Not Go To Court, I Am Not In APC — Wike Distances Self From Okorocha Judgment

The minister, however, rejected suggestions that his disagreement with Uzodimma had anything to do with the court judgment recognising Okorocha as the APC candidate for Imo West, insisting that he neither instituted the case nor participated in the proceedings.

“I didn’t go to court. I’m not in APC,” he said, distancing himself from the litigation and questioning the basis for attempts to link him to the outcome.

Wike maintained that his friendship with Okorocha was not evidence of involvement in the legal dispute, arguing that politicians were entitled to maintain personal relationships across political divides.

“I owe no apologies that Rochas is my friend,” he declared.

He questioned why his association with the former Imo governor should attract suspicion when Uzodimma also maintained relationships with politicians who were opposed to him in Rivers State.

According to Wike, political disagreements should not automatically translate into personal hostility, just as friendship between politicians should not be regarded as proof of involvement in their respective political or legal battles.

He also dismissed attempts to attach political significance to an old video showing him dancing with Okorocha, explaining that the footage dated back to the period when the latter was governor of Imo State.

The dispute followed the judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, which recognised Okorocha as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District, a decision challenged by the Imo APC and Uzodimma’s camp.

Wike insisted that his differences with Uzodimma over the Rainbow Coalition should not be linked to the judicial proceedings, maintaining that the arrangement was intended to mobilise support for Tinubu across party lines.

Fubara’s Political Future Not Gone — Wike

Wike’s defence of the coalition also extended to Rivers State, where he rejected suggestions that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s political future had ended following their prolonged disagreement.

“Governor Fubara is a young man. It will be incorrect to say that his political future is gone,” he said.

The minister maintained that Fubara remained politically active and had participated in activities associated with the Rainbow Coalition, including the unveiling of candidates in Rivers State.

Billboard Charges Not Political, Politics Expensive — Wike Tells Opposition

Turning to complaints over the cost of political advertising in Abuja, Wike dismissed allegations that the FCT Administration had deliberately increased billboard charges to frustrate opposition political parties ahead of the general elections.

He insisted that the charges were part of the administration’s revenue-generation drive to finance road construction, improve public schools and provide other essential infrastructure across the territory.

“We want money. The FCT wants money, and part of us making money is through the billboards to raise our revenue. If we know that in a given time, people will rush the billboard and authority feel that we will raise the funds to make more money,” Wike said.

“The authority did not raise funds against you, because it is you. I am going to use the money to do more roads, to improve the schools,” he added.

He argued that political campaigns were expensive across the world and that parties unable to secure their preferred outdoor advertising spaces should explore other means of communicating with voters.

“Politics is expensive all over the world. For Christ’s sake, a billboard does not win an election; how many people in the villages know about the billboard?” he queried.

On allegations that some political interests enjoyed preferential access to prominent billboard locations, Wike explained that advertising spaces were often booked and paid for several months or even a year in advance.

“People go and pay a year ahead for billboards. How will I know? My business is not going to ask who and who paid for the billboard; I have no business there,” he said.

“Let them complain to us; no one has complained to us. Nobody has complained to me,” he added.

What Is Business Of ASUU On Our Land? — Wike Queries Union Over UniAbuja Land Reallocation

The minister also confronted ASUU over its threat to disrupt academic activities at the University of Abuja following the reallocation of portions of the institution’s land in the Giri District to private developers and government agencies.

Wike questioned the union’s authority to intervene in land administration, insisting that the responsibility for allocating, regulating and enforcing land-use regulations in the FCT rested with the administration rather than a trade union.

“What is the business of ASUU on our land? How is ASUU the owner of land? Is ASUU the owner of the union in Nigeria now? Is it the union’s right?” he asked.

The minister maintained that the FCT Administration had statutory responsibility for land administration and enforcement of the Abuja master plan, stressing that the government would not abandon its development objectives because of threats of industrial action or litigation.

He questioned the justification for allowing a single university to retain thousands of hectares of land, particularly where substantial portions remained undeveloped, arguing that such holdings could impede infrastructure development and the orderly expansion of the nation’s capital.

The dispute followed a press conference by the Chairman of ASUU’s University of Abuja chapter, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, who warned that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony on campus unless the minister reversed the disputed land allocations.

Ugoh had maintained that the 11,824 hectares originally allocated to the university were essential for its long-term development, including future academic expansion, agricultural research, infrastructure provision and other institutional needs.

However, Wike maintained that the FCT Administration would not be intimidated by threats of a strike or litigation, insisting that land administration remained the responsibility of the government and that all allocations within the territory were subject to applicable regulations.

He reiterated that the administration would continue to enforce its land-use policies and pursue infrastructure development across the FCT, just as it would explore legitimate revenue sources, including outdoor advertising, to finance projects and improve public services.

StreetReporters.ng

This post has already been read at least 1138 times!