Mobolaji Michael
THE Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has described reports that some diplomatic missions concerned by the frequent security breaches in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are seriously considering relocating their embassies and High Commissions to Lagos is indicative of the erosion of public trust in Mr Nyesom Wike’s administration
CUPP, in a statement endorsed by its National Secretary, High Chief Peter Ameh, says it is dismayed by the “lackadaisical, nonchalant and distractive attitude being exhibited by the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital towards the security of lives and property of residents of Abuja”.
According to the coalition, Minister Wike has been away without leave struggling to remain as the apex political leader in his home state of Rivers in the name, of securing his political structure while the Federal Capital Territory is under the siege of rampaging, cold-hearted, and killer kidnappers, bandits, and terrorists who have shown no regards for human lives.
“In the past few days, innocent and promising young lives have been lost in a very gruesome manner through the hands of these evil men who have continued to make outrageous and near impossible demands before the release of their captives. Seven hundred million naira is no mean sum to raise, except for those who may have had their names mentioned in the Forbes Rich list.
“CUPP believes that the Hon. Minister, having been drowned in his distractions, has forgotten that effective governance entails the security of lives and properties, which are perhaps the most important building blocks for a peaceful and flourishing society.”
While making a demand for a hands-on deck approach by the Minister devoid of the distraction of power play and supremacy he is currently embroiled in with Rivers State governor, Siminalaye Fubara, CUPP insists that a capital city under siege like FCT Abuja requires a devoted leadership and seminal decision-making to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.
“CUPP also knows that when a leader is interfaced in incidental diversions during turbulent times like we have in FCT, it raises serious doubts as to the FCT Minister’s commitment to serve as a minister, consequences of which are the galloping insecurity everywhere in and around FCT.
“CUPP is most concerned by the report making the rounds in the dailies that some diplomatic missions concerned by the frequent security breaches in FCT are seriously considering relocating their Embassies and High Commissions to Lagos which shows the erosion of public trust in your administration, and which also ring a bell at the international scene about the safety of investments of potential investors who most likely will be put off, being fearful of bringing their hard-earned money into Nigeria, thereby affecting the potential and general economic growth of our dear nation”.
The coalition consequently advises the Minister to prioritize service to FCT residents which is the core mandate handed down by President Tinubu, rather than the distraction of allocating most of the time he would have expended as FCT Minster to his personal ambition of displacing a constitutionally elected governor, and remaining as the de-facto leader of Rivers State politics which elapsed by effluxion of time on 29 May, 2023.
Eighteen-Eleven Media