Wike Downplays Trending Video of Sacked MD of AUMTCO

 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

FCT Minister

has reacted to the trending video on the social media showing the staff of Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO) crying over the sack of the company’s Managing Director, Mr Najeeb Abdulsalam.

The minister told reporters over the weekend during an inspection tour of road projects in the Federal Capital City (FCC) that sentiments and emotions would not becloud his efforts to do the right thing in the interest of residents of the FCT and Nigerians at large. 

Abdulsalam was among the 21 heads of parastatals, agencies, and companies of the FCT Administration that were sacked by the minister last week. 

“That is why when I watched people on video, crying that somebody has been removed and that he has been doing well, but the question is, if you have been doing well, where are the buses?

“No sentiment, no emotions will be considered when we are doing what is right. We will do the right thing in the interest of the people. 

“If you like, carry 20 people, put a video, and cry as much as you want to cry, it will not bother us. What bothers us is the reality on the ground,” Wike said. 

He cautioned political appointees to always prepare to leave office at any time because someone might come and want to have a total change. 

“You are not a civil servant where you will say nobody is supposed to retire me because I am not up to the age of retirement.

“Even as a minister, I can be relieved of my position now. You don’t need to cry; some other people will come and all we pray for is, let us get the best,” Wike said.

The minister inspected five projects in the company of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Shehu Hadi Ahmed, former Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, and other senior officials of the FCTA.

He commended the contractors handling the projects for the good work, while urging them to ensure that they keep to the time of delivery.

The projects visited were the full scope development of arterial road N20 from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) with spurs and the rehabilitation and expansion of Outer Southern Expressway from Villa Roundabout to Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX)/Ring Road 1 junction with four interchanges.

Others were the construction of Southern Parkway from Christian Centre (S8/9) to Ring Road 1, the rehabilitation of the Federal Secretariat complex and the completion of roads B6, B12 and Circle Road in the Abuja Central Area.

He expressed optimism that the projects would be inaugurated and completed for use by President Bola Tinubu within the next eight months.