Abuja flooding: Rep Deputy spokesman defends Wike

The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has defended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against criticisms following recent severe flooding across parts of Abuja.

Agbese, a Labour Party lawmaker representing the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, suggested that blaming the Minister for the floods is unreasonable.

He made the position known in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the lawmaker, it was unfair to blame Wike for the flooding, arguing that the FCT Administration had embarked on several infrastructure projects aimed at improving roads, drainage, transportation and other critical facilities across the territory.

He said, “Blaming Wike for the flood in the FCT is like the Israelites blaming Moses for helping them to the Promised Land.

“At some point, we must appreciate transformative leadership and understand that government cannot solve every problem without the cooperation of the people.”

Agbese said the administration had extended infrastructure development beyond the Abuja city centre to satellite towns, noting that 221 kilometres of roads out of 317 kilometres awarded in satellite towns had been completed since the President Bola Tinubu administration came into office.

He also cited the Gwarampa-Jahi Interchange, Airport-Kuje Road, Kuje-Gwagwalada Road and sections of the Outer Southern Expressway, among major projects completed and inaugurated by the FCTA.

The lawmaker described Wike as “a prophet who is not honoured at home,” saying the minister’s performance had received recognition while some residents continued to focus on isolated challenges.

“Wike is like the Biblical prophet who is not honoured at home. At a time the man is being celebrated globally, some persons are still calling him names.

“We should be able to acknowledge the good works being done while also demanding that areas requiring improvement are addressed,” he said.

Agbese said flooding should be regarded as a shared responsibility, particularly in a rapidly expanding city such as Abuja, where population growth, construction and other human activities were putting pressure on drainage systems and natural waterways.

He specifically blamed indiscriminate dumping of refuse for worsening flooding in some parts of the FCT, saying residents often block drainage channels and waterways with waste before heavy rainfall.

“Residents also have a role to play. You cannot dump refuse into waterways and drainage channels and then turn around to blame the minister when the rain comes, and the water has nowhere to pass,” Agbese said.

He urged residents to stop using drainage channels and waterways as dumping grounds and to report blocked or encroached waterways to the relevant authorities.

The lawmaker also called on the FCTA to sustain investments in drainage and flood-control infrastructure while strengthening enforcement against indiscriminate dumping and encroachment on waterways.

Agbese said residents should regard themselves as partners in the development of Abuja and not merely beneficiaries of government projects.

“Abuja belongs to all of us. We must work with the FCT Administration to protect the infrastructure being provided and keep our communities clean.

“Government has its responsibilities, but citizens also have theirs,” he said.

He urged residents to support the administration’s development efforts, stressing that constructive criticism should be accompanied by responsible citizenship.

Agbese said the ultimate objective should be to build an FCT capable of coping with the pressures of population growth, extreme weather and increased human activity, rather than turning every challenge into an avenue for political blame.