President Bola Tinubu has approved the procurement of brand-new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for newly upgraded traditional rulers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has announced.
Wike disclosed this on Saturday, October 31, at the Rainbow Coalition Stakeholders Rally and unveiling of FCT National Assembly candidates organised by the FCT Stakeholders Assembly at the Old Parade Ground in Abuja.
The event attracted traditional rulers, chairmen of the six FCT Area Councils, representatives of indigenous communities, youth and women groups, as well as political leaders from different parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
During the rally, stakeholders endorsed President Tinubu for a second term in 2027. They also declared support for Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda as the FCT senatorial candidate, Hon. John Gabaya for Abuja North and Hon. Danladi Chiya for Abuja South Federal Constituency.
Explaining the President’s decision to provide vehicles for the traditional rulers, Wike said it was an acknowledgement of their contributions to cultural preservation, peace and community leadership.
He noted that Tinubu had also approved the upgrading of traditional stools in the FCT, a process he said had remained unattended to for 27 years.
According to the minister, the President believes traditional rulers should receive the recognition and support befitting their positions.
“Mr. President has said that you cannot just answer royal fathers by mouth. You cannot just answer royal fathers by entering Keke Napep. You cannot answer royal fathers by entering Okada. That all of you, by the grace of God, before December, you will go with your SUV cars,” Wike said.
He added that traditional institutions in the FCT deserved adequate support because of their importance to grassroots governance.
Turning to the 2027 elections, the minister charged political supporters to focus on securing votes at the grassroots, unveiling what he called “Operation Deliver Your Polling Unit” ahead of the January 16, 2027 election.
Wike urged party members and supporters to take responsibility for mobilising voters in their respective polling units, wards and Area Councils.
“Deliver your polling unit, deliver your ward, deliver your local government, deliver your state,” he said.
He cautioned supporters against celebrating collective electoral victories without contributing to results in their own polling units.
“I don’t want to hear: I lost my polling unit, but we won. If you lose your polling unit, don’t say we won because you never contributed to the victory. So, everybody go home, it’s Operation Deliver your Polling Unit,” the minister stated.
Wike also attributed several developments in the FCT to the support of President Tinubu, listing the completion of 30 inherited projects, the award of 76 new projects, the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, and the creation of Youth and Women Secretariats.
He further cited the FCT’s exit from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as one of the administration’s achievements, adding that cooperation among the Area Council chairmen had contributed to the progress recorded.
The minister also called on voters to support Senator Aduda, arguing that the senator had demonstrated concern for the interests of FCT residents.
Wike said the political mistakes made during the 2023 elections should not be repeated in 2027, urging supporters to make what he described as a more deliberate electoral choice.
As part of efforts to strengthen youth mobilisation, he announced that President Tinubu had approved four buses for FCT youths.
He also scheduled November 10 for an interactive engagement with young people across the six Area Councils and promised a separate meeting with persons with disabilities.
Emphasising the importance of inclusion, Wike said disability should not be taken to mean a lack of ability or capacity.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-Central), Abiodun Essien, disclosed that the Federal Government had completed 164 kilometres of roads across the North-Central region and 1,207 kilometres nationwide.
Essien commended Wike for the infrastructure development taking place in the FCT, saying it had helped make the President’s presence felt in the territory.
Other stakeholders, including the FCT Renewed Hope Ambassador, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, and FCT APC Chairman, Tanko Yamawo, also praised Wike’s appointment and highlighted his contributions to the territory.
Speaking on behalf of the National Assembly candidates, Senator Aduda thanked Tinubu and the FCT minister for the reforms introduced in the territory and pledged to provide effective representation.
The President of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly, Dr. Aliyu Daniel Bakna Kwali, said the group had set a target of mobilising one million votes for President Tinubu and candidates endorsed under the Rainbow Coalition.
The rally formed part of political mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with stakeholders calling on supporters to translate their endorsements into votes.