Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that President Bola Tinubu remains the best leadership option for Nigeria and defended the administration’s economic reforms. Wike made the remarks on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing.
He said the President had shown the courage to tackle long-standing economic problems that previous administrations avoided. Wike pointed to the removal of petrol subsidy and other reforms, saying they had improved government finances and increased funds available to states.
Speaking during the briefing, Wike said Tinubu had demonstrated the political will to make difficult decisions despite the challenges they created for many Nigerians. He argued that although the reforms had brought temporary hardship, they were necessary to put the country’s economy on a stronger path.
The minister maintained that no other political figure seeking the presidency had shown the readiness or ability to confront Nigeria’s deep-rooted economic issues in the way Tinubu had done. According to him, leadership requires taking tough decisions rather than choosing popular options that fail to solve national problems.
Wike said Nigerians should not expect years of economic decline to be reversed within a short period. He explained that the country’s financial challenges developed over many years and would require time before the benefits of the current reforms become fully visible.
He also defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, describing the former subsidy system as a heavy financial burden on the country. He said the policy had previously consumed huge public funds that could have been invested in development projects and public services.
Drawing from his experience as a former governor, Wike recalled that many state governments struggled to meet salary obligations because of limited federal allocations. He said some states had to rely on bank loans to pay workers, but the situation had improved following the increase in revenue available to sub-national governments.
According to the minister, higher allocations have enabled many states to settle pension obligations, pay salaries more easily and invest in roads, infrastructure and other development projects. He added that governors now have greater financial capacity to execute projects without depending heavily on borrowing.
Wike insisted that every major economic decision comes with challenges, but maintained that governments must be prepared to make difficult choices if they are to secure long-term economic stability.
He said the current administration should be judged not only by the immediate hardship caused by its reforms but also by the long-term benefits they are expected to deliver for the country.