Wike Arrives In Bonny For Stakeholders’ Meeting As He Backs Tinubu’s Re-Election

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has arrived in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State for an interactive meeting with residents and political stakeholders.

Wike was received by cultural dancers and other well-wishers upon his arrival in the coastal community on Saturday, October 24.

The visit was earlier announced by the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Council, Abinye Blessing Pepple, who said he and members of the Rainbow Coalition in Bonny would receive the minister and his entourage at Ibanise Town Hall. The meeting was scheduled for noon.

Earlier, Wike paid a courtesy visit to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, in Port Harcourt, where he urged residents of Bonny to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Wike cited the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road as evidence of the federal government’s commitment to infrastructure development, saying the project had ended years of dependence on boats and helicopters for access to the island community.

He said successive administrations had promised to complete the road but failed to deliver it, adding that the Tinubu administration had fulfilled residents’ longstanding expectations.

The former Rivers State governor also defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had increased the revenue available to state and local governments through federal allocations.

While acknowledging the hardship associated with rising petrol prices and the cost of living, Wike maintained that the benefits of the economic reforms should be assessed over time.

He further criticised the management of public funds under the previous Rivers State administration, raising questions about expenditure on major projects, including the proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital and a monorail project.

Wike alleged that $39 million had been paid for the proposed specialist hospital without the project reaching the foundation stage. He also claimed that $308 million received from the sale of a power plant in December 2014 had dwindled to $308,000 by May 2015.

He urged political leaders to be judged by their records in office, stressing the need for accountability, prudent management of public resources and development projects that address residents’ needs.