The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said that Nigeria requires visionary and courageous leaders like President Bola Tinubu to attain the much-desired national transformation.
Wike made this assertion on Thursday while delivering the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture titled “The Nigeria of Our Dreams” at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The minister identified poor leadership as the major hindrance to Nigeria’s development, aligning with the view of late novelist Chinua Achebe who once noted, “The trouble with Nigeria is fairly and squarely the absence of proper leadership.”
“This statement, damaging as it may appear, is extremely difficult to controvert.
“Our leaders have, in the main, emerged through self-serving conspiracies that have little or nothing to do with national interests and development.
“This has been the case in both military and civilian contexts,” he said.
Wike, however, argued that President Tinubu exemplifies the kind of leadership Nigeria needs—one rooted in character, resilience, and bold decision-making. He stated that the country requires a leader who is not only visionary but also proactive, logical, and committed to driving development and promoting free enterprise.
He added that more importantly, the ideal Nigerian leader must foster a society of free and responsible citizens where individual potentials thrive and mediocrity is replaced by excellence.
“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 has shown in several ways and at different times, a stout commitment to the enthronement of democracy in our country, to the extent of even putting his own life on the line in the process.
“He has shown great capacity for engendering development as captured in the unprecedented rapid and exponential development of Lagos State under his watch and even beyond,” he added.
Wike also commended Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidy on his first day in office, describing it as an act of rare courage. He noted that while previous administrations acknowledged the need for subsidy removal, none had the political will to confront its consequences.
“Tinubu did and is fittingly grappling with the inevitable, unintended and sometimes orchestrated consequences of this removal.
“Today, our states have far more resources to develop, the debts are no longer piling and the price of petrol is gradually but steadily adjusting downwards in tandem with the forces of demand and supply and the strict implementation of regulatory conditionalities.
“Also, the overwhelming cry of over-centralisation of power and resources at the national level and the attendant abuse of the doctrine of federalism is being systematically addressed.
“This is being addressed through the creation of zonal/regional commissions empowered to devolve developmental impetus to the respective zones and regions, so that power can truly return to the people.”
On national security, Wike stated that the Tinubu administration has increased funding and enhanced training for security forces. He also highlighted the approval for the recruitment of forest guards to secure Nigeria’s forests and eliminate breeding grounds for terrorists and bandits.
“Put simply, the era of banditry and terrorism will soon come to an end.
“These and many other policies and measures are being put together by Tinubu to reposition our country on the path of progress and development,” he said.
Earlier at the event, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, described Wike as a straightforward and visionary leader, especially noting his infrastructural strides in the FCT.
Also speaking, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, said the theme of the lecture was both timely and intellectually engaging.
“At a critical juncture in our nation’s democratic journey, when the challenges of governance, civic trust, and equitable development are at the forefront of public discourse, this lecture offers a vital platform for reflection, engagement and forward thinking.
“It calls us to interrogate the structures that uphold democracy, the principles that guide responsible governance, citizenship and the strategies that can unlock Nigeria’s development potential,” he said.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who served as Royal Father of the Day, praised Wike for his courage and sincerity.
He described the minister as an “upright politician” who always speaks the truth without fear.
“Hate him; like him – what will be will be.”
