Sharon Adurokiya, Reporting
FEDERAL Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has launched a blistering attack on the Nigerian Bar Association, accusing the once-respected legal body of abandoning its professional mandate to become a part is an political organisation.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the former Rivers State governor alleged that the NBA had traded its role as defender of the rule of law for political endorsements.
“The Nigerian Bar Association has now taken sides politically. They are now a political party,” Wike declared, warning that the association risked irreparable damage to its reputation if it continued down what he termed a “path of partisanship.”
The minister did not mince words when turning his fire on long-time political rival Rotimi Amaechi, insisting the former Rivers governor is wholly unsuited for national leadership.
“Rotimi Amaechi, who wants to be Vice President today, once shut down the courts in Rivers State and caused a pregnant woman to give birth in prison,” Wike alleged, urging Nigerians to scrutinise the track records of those seeking high office.
He argued that any individual who had violated democratic principles and undermined judicial independence should not be entrusted with the nation’s highest offices.
In a more sombre turn, the minister paid an emotional tribute to his late political associate, Chief Dan Orbih, describing the passing of the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain as one of the greatest personal losses he had ever endured.
“Dan Orbih’s death is a big shock to me. I am not sure if I can recover from his death,” Wike said, remembering the late leader as a dependable ally and courageous figure who remained steadfast even in the most difficult times.
Turning to governance matters, the minister addressed the recent flooding that has plagued parts of Abuja, blaming years of illegal construction on waterways—a problem he said had been exacerbated by the effects of climate change.
Wike disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration had suspended a director of the Federal Capital Development Authority for allegedly granting unlawful building approvals on waterways.
“The flooding in Abuja is a result of years of illegal development on waterways, while climate change has worsened the situation. We have suspended an FCDA director who unlawfully approved such buildings,” he stated.
The minister moved to reassure residents that every project awarded under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the FCT would be completed before the administration ends on 29 May 2027.
He revealed that the administration had already completed 23 of the 25 projects inherited from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, with the remaining two nearing completion.
Additionally, six out of eight projects inherited from the administrations of former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan had been finished, with work continuing on the remaining two.
Wike insisted that no project initiated under the Tinubu administration would be abandoned and issued a challenge to critics to compare the current FCT Administration’s infrastructure record with those of previous administrations since 1999.
“We are prepared to be judged by our performance,” he declared, maintaining that his administration remained fully committed to delivering all ongoing projects.
