Wike Breaks 44-Year Northern Grip On FCT Portfolio

President Bola Tinubu has named Nyesom Wike as the second minister ever from the South to preside over the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and the fourth Christian to also occupy the office.

GWG.ng reports that the last minister from the South to hold the portfolio was Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun who was also incidentally, the first minister of the FCT who held the portfolio between 1976 and 1979.

Since then the portfolio had passed through 15 Northerners who occupied the office until now.

However, for most of that period, some ministers of state were appointed who were mostly from the South with the notable exception of the Muhammadu Buhari administration who appointed two northern Muslims as minister and minister of state between 2019 and 2023.

GWG.ng further reports that Wike will be the fourth Christian to hold the office of minister of state following Ajose-Adeogun, John Jatau Kadiya who succeeded him during the Shehu Shagari administration between 1979 and 1982 and then Gen Jeremiah Useni, 1993 to 1998.

General Useni who occupied the portfolio during the General Sani Abacha regime was arguably the most influential minister of the FCT while Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who was specially positioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo is reckoned as the most impactful minister of the territory having served between 2003 and 2007.

The appointment of Wike is expected to re-energise the development of the FCT which took a substantial lull since the exit of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as the minister.

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