“I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of Marble”
-Augustus, former Roman Emperor.
Rome nicknamed the “Eternal city “(Roma Aeternal) by Tibullus the poet and other Roman writers could be said to have had it’s aesthetics redefined by Augustus the Roman Emperor that reigned from 27 BC -14 CE.
It was for this reason that Augustus boasted in his Res Gestae Augusti (Deeds of the Devine Augustus)that he found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of Marble. His rebuilding prowess could be gleaned from the palatine Hill,the Roman forum,and the campus Martius,where his Mausoleum and the Ara Pacis (Altar of Augustine peace) bears eloquent testimonies.
If Emperor Augustus could boast of turning Rome nicknamed the “Eternal city” from a city of bricks to marble,this writer has elected to boast on behalf of the minister of federal capital territory, Chief Nyesom Wike,and to say that ,the result -oriented minister has turned the federal capital territory (FCT) Abuja the centre of unity into city of irresistible beauty. Looking like Cleopatra enchantress that made Caesar to forget that he had a wife in Carpunia,when on account of the charming beauty of Cleopatra both of them went on boat cruise for months. Ministers have come and gone in the capital city ,and apart from Malam Nasiru El Rufai,who made transportation and restoration of the Abuja master plan an article of faith , none can hold a candle to chief Nyesom Wike in the area of Urban renewal and overall development of the federal capital territory (FCT).
For example the arteries of roads that have been commissioned are in quantum . His administration has seen to the completion of the Southern parkway from Christian centre to Ring Road 1,the outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) to Ring Road 1,and the rehabilitation of B6 and B12 Circle Roads. We have seen the commissioning of the access roads in sector centre B ,by Dakibiyu District,and the newly constructed Roads lL11(Esther Bali Street) and Mar 24 (kez Udezue Street)in Mabuchi District.
We have seen flag off of the construction of access road to the FCT fire service station and Erosion control in Kaura District with three span Bridges. Construction of transit way (2)to connect central Area with Wise District with two bridges . We have seen the design and construction of Mohammed Isa Road Extension in Cadastral Zone AO4 ,Asokoro District. What about the rehabilitation of 15 km old Keffi Road from kado village to Dei-Dei junction,and provision of first class engineering infrastructure to outstanding layouts within Guzape AO9 Lots 1 and 11 projects areas AIT Neighbourhood Asokoro AO4 District.
There has been the construction of a new dual -carriageway connecting Arterial Road N5 to the
Airport Expressway . Construction of access roads in the Wuye District and the upgraded roads in the Shuku community ( Kuje) and access roads to Saburi 1 &2 in AMAC are all bold imprints of the minister Nyesom Wike,and by extension the president Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration. The list of projects and transformation going on in the federal capital territory is unprecedented in the history of the country. The catalyst of change,happens to be no other person than the man former vice president Yemi Osinbajo nicknamed ” Mr projects’
Even as this writer writes, more projects are coming up and will come up with minister Wike on the saddle. As a Port -Harcourt boy , apologies to Duncan Mighty and his song “Port -Harcourt boy that has the name of Nyesom Wike celebrated with others , I can bear witness to the transformation of Rivers state as a whole under the watch of Chief Wike as governor. For eight years he governed Rivers state , it was construction and commissioning of projects on a daily basis ,that one could right say he is obsessed with projects and development. That he is replicating the Rivers miracle in the federal capital territory is merely proving true to type. What puts people in quandary is that while he plays his politics perfectly well , he works more than any other person when it comes to delivering dividends of democracy;which is development.
Sometime ago,the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi in an event that happened at Obafemi Awolowo university (OAU) suggested that Nyesom Wike should be studied in the university. This writer consider it a desiderata,as other political actors needs to study how he executes projects that ushers development,even with little resources. We have had leaders with stupendous resources at their disposal as governors ,but nothing to show for their stewardship. The avalanche of people singing the praises of minister Wike are doing so having seen his hands on leadership style and unwavering commitment to uplifting society through providing infrastructures that makes for a modern nation. Even the ministers enemies cannot take away his developmental strides.
He reminds one of few leaders that left developmental legacies in the country. The old Northern region, can not forget in a hurry how Ahmadu Bello the premier of Northern region in the first Republic attracted projects to that region. When people venerate , the Sarduana of Sokoto ,know it that it was for his good works. The Awo legacies,still resonates in the western region,as the late sage chief Obafemi Awolowo brought developments to the western region as premier . How about ,chief Michael Okpara nicknamed “MI power” by his admirers? As premier of Eastern region ,he made the Eastern region the fifth fastest economy in the fifties in the world. Leaders like that don’t die .
As a child I saw the transformation of old Imo state ,my state of origin ,by late Dr Sam Onunaka
Mbakwe . He was a governor elected under the then opposition party , Nigerian peoples party (NPP) in 1979 but within the four years period he was in power he turned the old Imo state to wonderland. He was so passionate about initiating projects that would benefit his state that he was nicknamed the “crying governor” as he was never satisfied with the monumental achievements of his government. Today ,he is a reference point to governance in the South -East and the country.
On changing the face of the federal capital territory (FCT) Abuja ,let us all friends and foes give
Chief Nyesom Wike,the honourable minister his flowers . Let us dance to the lord , just as king David did when the ark of God entered Jerusalem. In doing so, we shall be living true to the immortal words of Marcel Proust ,the French novelist ,essayist and literary critic who said thus: ” Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy;they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom”
Dr Uche Akunebu is a UK based author and media consultant.
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