The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described President Bola Tinubu as the kind of leader Nigeria needs to realise the long-cherished dream of national transformation, development, and progress.
Wike made this assertion on Thursday during the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture he delivered at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. His lecture, titled “The Nigeria of Our Dreams,” dissected the country’s leadership crisis and argued that Tinubu represents a turning point in Nigeria’s search for visionary and courageous governance.
According to Wike, bad leadership remains the biggest stumbling block to Nigeria’s development—a sentiment he echoed by referencing renowned writer Chinua Achebe.
“Our greatest challenge is the plague of bad leadership,” he said. “I agree with Chinua Achebe, who wrote in The Trouble with Nigeria that ‘the trouble with Nigeria is fairly and squarely the absence of proper leadership.’ As damaging as that statement may appear, it is extremely difficult to controvert.”
The former Rivers State governor argued that the emergence of leaders in Nigeria, both in military and civilian dispensations, has often resulted from “self-serving conspiracies that have little or nothing to do with national interest.”
However, Wike stated that Tinubu has proven to be an exception.
“Let me make bold at this juncture to state that today, in our country, we have such a leader in the person of Tinubu,” he said. “He has shown a stout commitment to democracy—even putting his life on the line—and displayed capacity for development as we saw in the exponential transformation of Lagos under his leadership.”
Wike further commended Tinubu’s courage in removing fuel subsidy on his first day in office, noting that past leaders had only paid lip service to the idea.
“Leaders before him all spoke about the evil of fuel subsidy, but none had the courage to dare the blackmail of removing it.”
“Tinubu did and is grappling with the unintended consequences—our states now have more resources, debts are no longer spiraling, and fuel prices are gradually adjusting to market realities,” he stated.
He also applauded efforts to decentralize power through the creation of regional commissions, stating:
“The overwhelming cry of over-centralisation of power and resources is being systematically addressed so power can truly return to the people.”
On security, Wike noted that Tinubu’s administration has approved the recruitment of forest guards to strengthen national safety and combat terrorism.
“Bandits and terrorists will no longer find incubation points or free territories to operate. The era of banditry and terrorism will soon come to an end,” he declared.
Speaking earlier, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, described Wike as a “straightforward politician” and lauded his transformative work in the FCT.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Bamire, said the lecture came at a time when Nigerians are in urgent need of visionary reflections on democracy and development.
“At this critical juncture of our democratic journey, this lecture offers a vital platform for reflection, engagement, and forward thinking.”
“It calls us to interrogate the structures that uphold democracy and the principles that guide responsible governance,” Bamire said.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who served as the Royal Father of the Day, praised Wike for his fearless and upright approach to politics.
“I have deep respect for Wike. He is fearless, upright, and always says things as they are,” the monarch stated. “Hate him or like him—what will be, will be.”
