By Williams Smith Bassey, reporting from Abuja
When Muhammad Bello was the Minister of the Federal Capital City, reports say—and they were vindicated—that he sat most times in the office not knowing what to do. The same report that monitored him for years would later confirm that if and when he wanted to act, it was either to drive prostitutes from the streets of Abuja or to seize alcohol from those selling the stuff! The reports say Muhammed Bello conveniently forgot that he was the minister in charge of the federal capital! During his inglorious reign, he took the capital city at least twenty years back introducing under the guise of fostering their so-called irredentists strange rules and laws that allowed cattle to roam about freely in the streets; he couldn’t be bothered that governance was at a standstill; filths returned to the city and traffic gridlock became rife; motorists and commuters rued their ugly fate in the hands of an insensitive and clueless administrator.
Nothing moved including infrastructure that got badly destroyed; Whenever Muhammed Bello was featured in the news it was about his attendance at the weekly Jumat service where he exhibited some form of pious and holy attitude; yet, Buhari, his mentor found the reason to install him back as Minister for a second horrible term in office! Nevertheless, If Bello was colorless all through his better-forgotten reign, Nyesom Wike, his successor has proven to be colorful; Wike has come to demystify governance, that governance is not rocket science; Wike has completely exposed the unprecedented weakness inherent in Muhammed Bello and shown him to be as hollow as anything else. Wike has shown that governance is as simple as ABCD with nothing strange.
He came on board and swiftly reproduced his famed nickname as “Mr Projects” back in Port Harcourt. In no time, Wike dazzled, regaling Abuja residents with robust and professional deliverance of service; this is no fluke; those who deserved to be praised have to. Under six months Wike has turned Abuja into a pulsating arena of men and machines cooperating to revive the moribund city. A drive around the city is a testimony of hard work, diligence, and foresight. All the previously abandoned projects under Muhammed Bello for which monies were paid and collected and left “dead” are springing back to life. It is laughter as Abuja is regaining its status as the capital of the most beautiful city in Nigeria. Hate him or like him, Wike knows his onions; heavily criticized for his forays into Rivers State, Wike, unperturbed is rapidly distinguishing himself as President Tinubu’s most trusted ally.
The question is: what is governance without delivery of service? Wike wouldn’t want to be grouped as a non-performer; it is not even possible he has his eyes on anything—like the opposition is wont to say; Governance is simply the art of providing services for the masses and ensuring better conditions of living! Governance is not for private and selfish motives; governance is not for opportunistic and shallow-minded people; it is to change the lives of people! Today, President Tinubu would be happy that he would have something to show if and when he celebrates one year in office. He would realize that Wike has become one of his most dependable ministers and deserves all the support. For those critiques, all they have to do is to drive around the city.
In Area 3 for example, there is a portion of the road abandoned for complete 8 years of the Buhari Administration; Wike had it fixed in less than two months! There is the Apo Roundabout and the perilous Apo-Resettlement-Mechanic Village road which ought to have been dualized long ago but irresponsibly abandoned; Wike is now giving the road the right focus; there is also the Asokoro-flyover also abandoned by Muhammed Bello; that axis is now receiving the touch of modernization. Professionalism is all it takes; unfortunately, no one will be brought to book for maladministration or non-performance that’s where we found ourselves in this country where stealing and non-performance are hailed as an achievement! So sad, but thank God for people like Wike who understands that tomorrow will come; and when it does, it is only praises for those who perform —like him.
