Wike Defends Tinubu's Subsidy Removal, Faults NBA Leadership

At a Wednesday media engagement in Port Harcourt, Nyesom Wike, who serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, threw his weight behind President Bola Tinubu's policy to eliminate fuel subsidies. He argued that responsibility for how revenue flows are managed belongs squarely with state and local governments, asserting that Tinubu lacks the power to control spending decisions at sub-national tiers regarding the windfall created by this reform.

Peter Obi, the National Democratic Congress's presidential aspirant, had previously voiced worries about how subsidy removal proceeds would be utilized, triggering Wike's intervention. Wike pivoted the conversation away from decisions made at the federal level, directing focus instead toward how states and localities govern their finances.

He emphasized that authorities governing states and local councils now dispose of greater financial capacity to pursue development work and therefore warrant scrutiny over resource expenditure—not agencies operating from the capital. Per the Minister, eliminating subsidies on fuel embodies courageous fiscal stewardship undertaken by Tinubu's team.

In another matter, Wike criticized the leadership cadre of the Nigerian Bar Association, dismissing their Rivers State gathering as disappointing. He contended that the NBA's direction has allowed political considerations to overshadow substantive questions impacting legal practitioners and their field.

He called on the association's hierarchy to concentrate their efforts on circumstances materially affecting members and judicial frameworks instead of involvement in politics. During the same media session, Wike additionally lauded how the Tinubu government has performed regarding Federal Capital Territory schemes, highlighting various construction endeavors and projects underway.

His discussion spanning subsidy responsibility, NBA conduct, and advancement in Abuja illustrated his effort to address divergent political narratives simultaneously during one forum.