I’m Not El-Rufai’s Rival – Wike Breaks Silence On FCT Ministerial Comparison

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed comparisons between his tenure and that of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who held the FCT Minister position under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In an interview with BBC Pidgin on Saturday, Wike clarified that he does not seek to measure his achievements against El-Rufai’s, stressing that he has his own distinct style of governance.

According to Naija News, Wike acknowledged El-Rufai’s notable contributions during his time in office but highlighted that every minister has their own methods and priorities.

“El-Rufai did well in his time, no doubt,” Wike said. “But I’m not here to compete with anyone. When President Tinubu assigned me this role and showed genuine support for my work, I understood he wanted me to transform Abuja.”

He further noted, “People can judge as they wish, but I had never even lived in Abuja before now. Back when El-Rufai was minister, I was a local council chairman and hadn’t visited Abuja — so comparing our styles doesn’t make much sense to me.”