Tinubu Is Fully in Charge, Not Controlled by Any Cabal – Wike

Ile-Ife, Osun State – June 5, 2025 —
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is being influenced by unseen power brokers, asserting that the Nigerian leader is fully in control of his administration.

Speaking on Thursday at the 2025 Obafemi Awolowo University Distinguished Personality Lecture in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Wike hailed Tinubu’s leadership style as bold and decisive, particularly in addressing long-standing issues that past administrations avoided.

“Under Tinubu, there is nothing like cabal. This is a president that is in charge,” Wike declared while delivering the keynote address at the high-profile event, which attracted top dignitaries including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.

The FCT Minister praised President Tinubu for taking politically difficult decisions, such as removing the petrol subsidy and unifying the country’s multiple foreign exchange rates — moves he said previous presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, lacked the courage to implement.

According to Wike, had the controversial fuel subsidy regime remained, a significant number of individuals would still be profiting from what he described as “fuel subsidy fraud.”

While acknowledging that Nigeria has “underperformed in the last six decades,” Wike expressed optimism that with the right governance structures and a renewed sense of national unity, the country could still rise to greatness.

“The Nigeria we desire won’t fall from heaven,” he said. “It will require vision, sacrifice, hard work, and purpose. Let us leave for the next generation resolve, not regrets.”

Wike also responded to critics calling for his removal as FCT Minister, stating that his performance speaks for itself. He reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing payment of ground rent debts in Abuja, emphasizing that “heaven will not fall” if defaulters are compelled to pay what they owe.

The event also featured prominent guests, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue), among others.