Inside the packed pews of St. James Anglican Church, Asokoro, the atmosphere was thick with thanksgiving—but it didn’t take long before the sanctuary turned into a battleground of ideas and political convictions.
Standing before a cross-section of Nigeria’s political elite and clerical class, FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike delivered more than just gratitude for completed infrastructure projects—he delivered fire.
With the cadence of a courtroom litigator and the flair of a political streetfighter, Wike tore into the newly-formed coalition of opposition parties touting a “Rescue Nigeria” agenda. His verdict? They are not out to rescue Nigeria—they are out to rescue themselves.
“You want to rescue who?” Wike thundered. “Rescue Nigeria? No—you want to rescue your stomach. Let’s stop deceiving ourselves.”
He didn’t stop there. With each sentence, he unravelled what he called the “political acrobatics” of the opposition—jumping from one party to another in an endless game of self-preservation.
“In 1999, you were in one party. In 2006, another. In 2014, you moved again. In 2019, you returned to yet another platform. Now in 2025, you say you’re forming a coalition to save Nigeria? Nigerians are not fools.”
The remarks came during a Thanksgiving Service to mark the successful commissioning of legacy projects by President Bola Tinubu to commemorate his second year in office. And while the tone was celebratory, Wike seized the moment to draw a sharp contrast between a government building infrastructure and opposition figures, whom he accused of only building narratives.
According to Wike, it is under Tinubu’s administration that difficult but necessary decisions—like the removal of oil subsidy—have translated into concrete gains, such as increased monthly allocations to states and visible development in the FCT. He cited the revamped Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, the strategic exit of the FCT Administration from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), and the appointment of competent officials as steps that are repositioning the capital for excellence.
“The real rescue mission is already happening,” Wike said. “It’s called the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The service itself was a moment of affirmation for the Minister, who has weathered months of political crossfire. Venerable (Dr.) Benjamin Idume, delivering the sermon, called Wike’s appointment “preordained,” saying the Minister had silenced doubters and turned sceptics into believers.
“You have proven the Thomases wrong,” the clergyman said, before leading prayers for the Minister and the President.
The event drew heavyweights from across the political spectrum—Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, former Governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator David Jimkuta, Rivers State Speaker Martins Amaehule, and several top FCTA officials.
In a moving gesture, the Anglican Church conferred on Wike an Award of Excellence, declaring him an “Ambassador of Christ.”
But for all the hymns and accolades, it was Wike’s unflinching challenge to the opposition that echoed most forcefully beyond the church walls.
“Nigerians are not angry with this administration—they are angry with those who wasted their time in the past,” he concluded. “And we won’t let them deceive us again.”
