Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has called on Nigerians to unite behind President Bola Tinubu’s administration, emphasizing the need to transcend political divisions in the nation’s interest.
His remarks came during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in Abuja with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
“Mr. President alone cannot fix Nigeria. We need to join hands with him, irrespective of party affiliations. Let us put politics aside and support what is good,” Ortom stated, highlighting the unprecedented infrastructure development underway in the capital.
The former governor, who served as Minister under President Goodluck Jonathan and has been politically active since 1982, expressed astonishment at the scale of transformation in Abuja. “I’ve seen several Ministers of the FCT, but this is the first time I am witnessing monumental development in Abuja,” Ortom remarked. “I am very proud of what my friend and colleague, Nyesom Wike, is doing.”
Ortom particularly commended President Tinubu’s statesmanship in appointing Wike, a prominent opposition figure, to oversee the FCT. “If Mr. President was a partisan leader, he wouldn’t have appointed Wike, who is from the opposition. But he saw capacity, and that’s leadership,” the former governor noted.
The inspection revealed comprehensive upgrades including:
– Major road construction projects
– World-class bus terminals at Kugbo and Mabushi
– A newly implemented painted taxi system reorganizing urban transport
“I’ve seen Kugbo and Mabushi terminals – these are facilities we usually see abroad,” Ortom observed. “To now see them in our own capital is something to celebrate.”
Remarkably, Ortom confessed the rapid developments had altered Abuja’s landscape beyond recognition. “I have lived in Abuja since 2008, but with what I see today, I need a guide to move around. That’s how much the city has changed in just one year,” he admitted.
