Tinubu’s Re-election: Wike Unveils N10m Reward for Councillors Who Secure Their Wards

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has announced a N10 million financial reward for every councillor who successfully secures his or her political ward for President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election.

Wike made the announcement on Monday during an engagement with political stakeholders, traditional rulers and other community leaders in Kwali, describing the incentive as part of the Rainbow Coalition’s grassroots mobilisation campaign.

He said the initiative would be implemented across the country, with the Federal Capital Territory serving as the starting point. According to him, the arrangement is designed to encourage competition among councillors and strengthen support for Tinubu at the ward level.

“For the councillors, you have a task. I will hold a meeting with you again and I will now say the way I am going to mobilize you but I will give you a bet, like what is happening in the stars, it’s a competition.

“Anybody who delivers his ward, if you deliver your ward, that is what the Rainbow Coalition has decided to do as mobilization and support for Mr President, we have to start in the FCT (I couldn’t say so when the president came because they gave me only two minutes to talk).

“But now that I have time to talk, let me say that the Rainbow Coalition all over the federation, as a form of mobilization for Mr President to win this election, we are saying that any councillor that delivers his ward will come and take N10 million. We want to mobilize For Mr President.

“So, go to your wards, go and see your leaders. I know only you cannot do it but we are using you as instrumentality to your leaders. Go and meet your leaders and say ‘look o, there is something that has come. We must not allow this thing to go. Let’s deliver our ward for Mr President’.

“So, that is for that”, Wike urged the gathering.

Beyond the electoral mobilisation plan, the minister also addressed concerns about the welfare of councillors in the FCT, following an appeal by Gambo Hamza, Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria (FCT Chapter).

Hamza had highlighted the financial challenges facing local government representatives, particularly their monthly salary of N260,000. Wike described the amount as unacceptable and pledged to discuss a possible review with the Permanent Secretary and other relevant administrative officials.

He also spoke about the need to strengthen women’s participation in governance, calling for greater inclusion in the political and decision-making process.

On the question of the FCT’s political representation, Wike criticised what he described as an imbalance in the territory’s allocation of legislative seats. He argued that a population estimated at between six and seven million people should have a stronger voice in the National Assembly, especially when compared with states with smaller populations that have three senators and as many as 10 representatives.

The minister also defended his administration’s decision to provide brand-new Sport Utility Vehicles to first-class traditional rulers in the FCT, rejecting suggestions that the gesture amounted to political inducement.

He maintained that traditional institutions deserved respect and should be adequately supported in carrying out their responsibilities.

“You want a first-class traditional ruler to be walking on the road with a stick in hand, taking public buses so they can get hit by a car one day? But you expect Chief Press Secretaries to Governors, Chairmen, and Presidents to ride SUVs?

“Instead of using their platforms to support good things, critics turn it upside down. We will provide for our traditional rulers, and nothing will come out of their complaints,” he said.

Providing an update on infrastructure development, Wike said more than 270 kilometres of roads had been constructed across the FCT satellite towns, including 95 kilometres in Kwali.

He added that several ongoing road projects were approaching completion and were expected to be commissioned in December.

Wike further maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was bringing together residents and political interests across party lines to advance development and improve representation in the territory.

He praised Tinubu’s leadership, arguing that the president had taken decisions aimed at addressing longstanding challenges facing the FCT.

“The kind of decision the President is taking is not one that other politicians will take, bringing us out from the shadow into reality, and that is what a good leader should be able to do for his people,” he said.

Wike cited the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of an FCT Head of Service, financial autonomy for area councils and infrastructure development in satellite communities as some of the achievements of the Tinubu administration.

He reiterated that the territory continued to face inadequate representation at the federal level, noting that its estimated population of six to seven million residents was represented by just one senator and two members of the House of Representatives.