2027: We’ll Reward Tinubu For What He Has Done For FCT, Etsu Kwali Declares

…Says traditional rulers, communities ready to mobilise support for president’s re-election

The Etsu of Kwali, His Royal Highness, Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, has declared that the people of Kwali Area Council and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will reward President Bola Tinubu with massive political support in the 2027 general election in appreciation of his administration’s achievements in the territory.

The monarch said the people had benefited immensely from the Tinubu administration, particularly in infrastructure development, traditional institutions, civil service reforms and increased revenue allocation to the FCT Area Councils.

Nizassan made the declaration on Monday while speaking on behalf of the Council of Chiefs, Kwali Area Council, at a Rainbow Coalition Stakeholders’ meeting in Kwali, where he pledged the support of traditional rulers and their subjects for Tinubu’s re-election.

Addressing the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and other dignitaries, the traditional ruler said the four greater chiefs, 15 district heads and representatives of communities across Kwali had been mobilised to demonstrate their commitment to the political movement.

He said: “You will agree with me that the FCT has never had it this good. In 2023, when Nigerians went out to elect political leaders who would lead the country for four years, Kwali was able to deliver for Mr President.

“Despite that, the President and Commander-in-Chief gave us opportunities we had never had. For 50 years, we had been recognised as what the United Nations would describe as non-existent people because we live in a country where we do not have a state.

“But President Tinubu, using the instruments of the Constitution, recognised the need for our inclusion, and one of our own, Honourable Disalo, was appointed to sit in the highest boardroom of this country. It was the first of its kind.”

The monarch also commended Wike for championing the implementation of the legal framework that established a full-fledged civil service in the FCT, saying the reform had opened up opportunities for indigenous people to attain top positions in the administration.

Citing the appointment of Florence Okonkwo as Permanent Secretary in the Transportation Secretariat and an indigene of Kwali as Acting Director of Works, he said the reforms had started producing tangible benefits for the community.

“Today, we have a civil service with promising career opportunities, a civil service that allows our people to rise to the highest levels of the career structure. For this, we are grateful,” he said.

Nizassan further praised the Tinubu administration’s tax reforms, noting that they had contributed to the growth of the FCT’s internally generated revenue from about N9 billion to over N40 billion.

According to him, increased revenue had translated into improved financial capacity for the Area Councils, enabling them to clear outstanding salary obligations, construct roads and execute development projects.

On infrastructure, the traditional ruler listed the Dr Ladi Kwali Road, the Sukuku-Yangoji Road and the A2-Pai, Pai-Gwagwalada, Gwagwalada-Dafa and Dafa-Yangoji roads among projects that had improved connectivity in the area.

He said the projects, alongside ongoing road construction, would connect all 10 political wards in Kwali Area Council to the central ward and the FCT city when completed.

“These projects have connected four to five political wards in Kwali Area Council. If the Kwali-Yango Road is completed, it will also connect two political wards to the central ward.

“Within three years, the President has done what previous administrations could not achieve for us. We want to thank Mr President,” he added.

The monarch also disclosed that his own appointment had received presidential approval after experiencing delays, describing himself as one of the beneficiaries of the current administration.

He particularly applauded Tinubu and Wike for upgrading traditional rulers in the FCT, saying his elevation to first-class status had restored the dignity of traditional institutions and enhanced their recognition nationally.

According to him, the promotion had enabled FCT traditional rulers to participate in national committees and contribute to discussions on legal and institutional frameworks governing traditional institutions across the country.

He said: “You have restored the dignity of the people of the FCT and placed us in a vantage position to relate with our counterparts across the country.

“Today, we are recognised among traditional institutions in Nigeria. Personally, I have served in more than six committees of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria because of this promotion.”

Describing politics as a game of demand and supply, Nizassan said the people had made demands at previous town hall meetings, commissioning ceremonies and groundbreaking events, adding that the administration had responded to many of their requests.

He said the time had come for the people to reciprocate the government’s efforts through political support.

“Politics is a game of demand and supply. It was in this town hall that we made demands. At commissioning grounds and groundbreaking events, we made demands, and those demands have been met. It is our turn to supply.

“Be reassured that we are making a commitment this afternoon that, by the grace of God, we are behind the President, and we will throw our weight behind him like we have never done for any president. He has done his part, and it is our turn to do our part,” the monarch declared.

He also defended Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing them as courageous decisions taken in the interest of national recovery and long-term development.

According to him, although the policies initially attracted criticism, the President had demonstrated the political will to take difficult decisions aimed at repositioning the country.

Nizassan concluded by commending Tinubu and Wike for bringing traditional rulers and communities across the FCT together under a common platform, saying the initiative had strengthened unity and collective engagement among the territory’s diverse population.