Wike Mocks Critics of Rainbow Coalition, Says They Cannot Unite Their Families

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised politicians opposing the Rainbow Coalition, claiming that some of its critics lack the ability to unite their families and communities.

Wike said the alliance, which brings together political stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was formed to promote unity, cooperation and development across the Federal Capital Territory.

He spoke on Monday during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada Civic Centre and an engagement with APC and PDP stakeholders in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.

The minister praised political leaders in the area for setting aside their party differences and agreeing to work together, saying their decision showed a willingness to prioritise the interests of residents over individual political ambitions.

He argued that politicians criticising the coalition did not understand the importance of unity and lacked the capacity to bring people together, even within their families and communities.

Wike also challenged opponents of the alliance to explain why political leaders who previously belonged to opposing camps should not cooperate in pursuit of shared interests.

He described the political arrangement in Gwagwalada as a departure from confrontational politics, adding that the FCT needed collaboration rather than unnecessary hostility among political stakeholders.

The minister urged residents to avoid what he described as a repeat of the mistakes made during the 2023 general elections, calling for the election of credible representatives to the National Assembly.

He said the territory needed lawmakers who understood the challenges facing residents across its six area councils and could effectively present their concerns to the Federal Government.

Wike questioned whether the senator representing the FCT was sufficiently familiar with the needs of residents in Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji and the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

He specifically urged residents to support former Senator Philip Aduda and other candidates endorsed by the coalition, arguing that elected representatives should be accessible and understand the needs of their constituents.

Wike also declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, urging coalition members to mobilise voters across communities, districts and polling units ahead of the 2027 elections.

He called on residents to demonstrate their support for Tinubu through their votes on election day rather than treating the occasion as an ordinary day for business or other activities.

Earlier, the FCT APC Chairman, Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, described the gathering as historic, saying Wike’s political involvement had brought together leaders who previously operated on opposing sides.

Yamawo said politicians who once viewed one another as rivals because of their party affiliations were now working together under a common political arrangement in Gwagwalada.

He also praised the minister for easing political tensions in the area, noting that political activities had become more peaceful, with fewer incidents of vehicle destruction and other violence previously associated with campaigns.

The FCT PDP Chairman, Ismaila Mohammed Dogara, also commended Wike for his development projects, particularly the completion of a facility that had reportedly been abandoned for 16 years.

Dogara said the cooperation between APC and PDP leaders reflected the minister’s efforts to bring political stakeholders together.

The Aguma of Gwagwalada, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji, equally praised Wike’s contributions to the development of the territory, saying the revival of the abandoned project demonstrated the value of continuity in governance.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Kassim Mohammed, listed road projects completed by his administration in Gwagwalada metropolis, Tungan Wada, Abum-pe and other communities.

He thanked Wike for approving the establishment of a one-inch chip facility in the area but appealed to the minister to intervene in the poor condition of the road connecting the Army checkpoint to the Specialist Hospital.

A former chairman of the area council, Zakari Angulu Dobi, recalled that the Civic Centre was nearly 80 per cent complete when he left office but suffered vandalism during the 16 years it remained abandoned. He said the level of completion had subsequently fallen to about 40 per cent.

Dobi praised the incumbent council chairman for bringing the project back to life, describing its completion as a victory for all Gwagwalada residents, regardless of their political affiliations.

Also speaking, Adamu Mustapha Danze urged FCT residents to support Tinubu and Wike at the polls in 2027, saying their votes would be a way of reciprocating the attention given to the territory.

The Gwagwalada Area Council Women Leader, Hajara Abdullahi, pledged the support of women for Tinubu, Aduda and other APC candidates. She also appealed for the establishment of a cottage hospital to improve access to healthcare in the area.

Similarly, the Gwagwalada Youth Leader and Special Assistant to the council chairman, Inuwa Guzo, assured the minister that youths from both APC and PDP would support the Rainbow Coalition.

He also called for the rehabilitation of the Gwagwalada football stadium, which he said had been abandoned for more than 25 years.