Wike: Separating The FCT Minister From His Politics
By Yahaya Kana Onzonu
Greek philosopher Heraclitus (535–475 BCE) is credited with first putting forward the concept of duality. Names like Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), Sigmund Freund, Aristotle among several others took a crack at, and expanded the reach of the concept. Generally, the concept of duality offers a profound framework for understanding the coexistence of contrasting or complementary forces that shape our world. This interplay of opposites – light and shadow, chaos and order, action and restraint, Ying and Yang – is often interdependent, creating a whole that is richer and more complex than its individual parts.
In leadership, duality manifests in the tension between public perception and performance, politics and governance, rhetoric and results. Such is the case with Hon. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), whose persona and performance present a compelling study in contrasts typifies the interplay between rhetoric and performance.
As a politician, Wike has built a reputation for fiery rhetoric, unrelenting confrontation, and an unapologetically combative style. The raging feud with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, his former protégé, exemplifies the turbulence that defines his political life. The public spectacle of their conflict, marked by accusations and counter-accusations, reveals a man unafraid to wield his political might, even at the risk of alienating allies. Wike thrives in the theater of political battles, where his assertiveness secures dominance but often leaves questions about the decorum expected of a statesman.
Yet, when separated from his politics, Wike as Minister of the FCT is a figure of remarkable achievement, exemplifying tangible results as the panacea for leadership. In less than two years, he has overseen transformative changes in Abuja, breathing new life into a city that had languished under the administration of his predecessor, Mohammed Bello. Under Wike’s stewardship, the FCT is witnessing a renaissance, with renewed infrastructure projects, urban beautification initiatives, and a decisive push to restore order in the capital. Roads are being repaired, housing developments are gaining momentum, and the area councils are no longer neglected. The stark contrast between his performance and that of his predecessor is undeniable, as Wike’s impact is felt in ways that the eight years of Mohammed Bello’s tenure failed to achieve or even project.
While Wike’s critics have pointed to his methods, accusing him of highhandedness and authoritarian tendencies, what’s undeniable is the practical results, impacts for everyone to see and relish. Although, these criticisms highlight the complexity of his leadership style, which combines uncompromising decisiveness with an apparent disregard for consensus-building, they do not tell the whole story. So, where some see his approach as necessary to achieve results in a bureaucracy often mired in inefficiency, others argue that it risks alienating stakeholders and undermining inclusivity. A third argument is to let the ends justify the means.
In navigating the duality of his persona, Wike demonstrates an ability to compartmentalise his roles, separating the combative nature of his political persona from the pragmatic demands of governance. This compartmentalisation has allowed him to focus on delivering tangible outcomes in the FCT while keeping his political theatrics confined to the broader national stage, and if reports are to be believed, the battle of wits with his estranged political godson in Rivers state governor, Fubara. His leadership typifies the interplay of opposing forces: his political aggression fuels his administrative determination, while his administrative successes temper the controversies that surround him.
Wike’s rhetorics notwithstanding, it must be said that he was not all this incendiary. His current double-down politics resulted from bad politics in his party, the People’s Democratic Party in the run into 2023. I refer first to the process that led to the selection of Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 election. While a committee empanelled by PDP to recommend a suitable name as Atiku’s running mate preferred Nyesom Wike, the PDP flag bearer opted for Okowa. This was the moment of implosion in PDP which ultimately led to Wike accepting a ministerial position under an opposition party, yet shattering the ceiling of performance. So, while the fallouts from his 2023 election politics may have created an image of an uncompromising individual, it birthed a dynamic persona, leading two different battles at once – one of politicking and the other of efficiency and goal getting.
Ultimately, Wike’s legacy will be shaped by this dynamic tension. While his political outbursts and battles may continue to dominate headlines, it is his accomplishments as Minister of the FCT that will leave a lasting imprint not just on Abuja’s development, but on the overall perception of his person. In a country where leaders are often judged solely on their rhetoric, Wike offers a reminder that results matter most. His tenure as FCT minister reflects the complexity of leadership, where dualities are not contradictions to be resolved but forces to be harnessed for progress.
Through this lens, therefore, Wike’s story is one of transformation – not just of the FCT but of how leadership itself is perceived. His duality as a polarising politician and an inspirational administrator, notwithstanding, his persona reveals the challenges and possibilities of public service in Nigeria, where the coexistence of contrasting forces often defines the path to meaningful change.
Onzonu writes of Jikwoyi, Abuja, kanaismail@yahoo.com