By Stella Odueme
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cited the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road as a major achievement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urging residents of Bonny Kingdom to support his re-election bid in 2027.
Wike said the road had ended decades of dependence on boats and helicopters for transportation to and from the island community, describing its completion as a significant milestone for residents and businesses.
The minister spoke on Saturday during a courtesy visit to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, in Port Harcourt, ahead of an interactive meeting with residents of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He noted that successive administrations had made promises to construct the road without completing the project until the present administration.
According to him, the completion of the road demonstrates the importance of political leadership that translates promises into tangible development.
“The advantage is that we can now go by road to Bonny. Administrations have come, and this road has become a political road. It is not today. So many governments have said, ‘We will try,’ but thank God, under the administration of the present president, this road has been completed,” Wike said in a statement by the Deputy Director Press Office of the Minister, Rabi Musa Umar on Saturday.
The minister, who coordinates Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State and the FCT, urged residents to assess the performance of political leaders based on their records in infrastructure development, economic reforms and public resource management.
He also defended Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, describing it as a difficult but necessary measure that previous administrations had failed to implement decisively.
“Each time a president comes, fuel subsidy is a scam. What have you done with it? Nobody has been able to make a courageous decision,” he said.
While acknowledging the economic difficulties Nigerians have faced following the removal of the subsidy, Wike argued that the policy had increased revenue available to state and local governments.
He claimed that states now receive at least N15 billion monthly from federal allocations, excluding other revenue inflows, and called on subnational governments to invest the funds in infrastructure, education and other public services.
The former Rivers State governor recalled that the resources available to states were considerably lower when he assumed office in 2015.
He maintained that the reforms had created opportunities for governments to address development needs, adding that the benefits should be assessed beyond their immediate economic consequences.
Wike also claimed that public universities had not embarked on strikes in the three years preceding his remarks, attributing the development to improved funding conditions.
He urged voters to scrutinise the records of politicians seeking public office rather than rely on promises, arguing that accountability and project delivery should guide political decisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The minister also criticised the management of some projects under the previous Rivers State administration, citing a proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, a monorail project and the sale of a power-related asset.
He alleged that $39 million had been paid for the proposed specialist hospital without the project reaching the foundation stage.
Wike further claimed that $308 million realised from the sale of a power plant in December 2014 had dwindled to $308,000 by the time he assumed office in May 2015.
He argued that the funds could have supported development projects across the state's local government areas if properly managed.
The minister said the examples underscored the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
He also emphasised the importance of community participation in determining government priorities, urging traditional rulers, youths and community leaders to identify their most pressing needs and communicate them to the relevant authorities.
According to him, development projects should reflect the specific needs of communities, adding that consultation and cooperation between residents and government institutions were essential for effective service delivery.
Earlier, the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, welcomed Wike and acknowledged his longstanding relationship with the kingdom.
The monarch recalled the minister’s support for the establishment of Bonny Polytechnic while he served as a minister, as well as his interventions on security-related matters.
He also commended Wike’s contribution to the Bonny-Bodo Road project, describing his support as significant to the development of the kingdom.
“The Minister has been of immense support to us, ranging from where we tried to establish the Bonny Polytechnic. He played a major role towards having this polytechnic started at the time he was Minister,” the monarch said.
He described Bonny Kingdom as an important contributor to Nigeria’s economic and national life and praised the minister’s emphasis on infrastructure development and project delivery.