The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said he would not be distracted by the protest against him.
Wike said he’s busy focusing on delivering the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.
There have been several protests against Wike over his policies on land allocations in the capital city.
Leading indigenes of the FCT, Adamu Matazu, said Wike’s actions were detrimental to the progress and growth needed in Abuja.
However, reacting to the protests, Wike said the protesters were paid to march against him.
Speaking on Thursday at the flag-off of remedial work on roads in the FCT, Wike said: “Yesterday someone told me there were some people carrying placards. Frankly speaking, I don’t have the time to see that. I was busy and I don’t want to be distracted. I want to be focused and deliver on the mandate Mr President has given us.
“But one thing you must understand is that this is a democracy, so many people are entitled to their opinions. But what is important is your opinion must be in line with what is good for the people of FCT.
“We can’t do the same thing the same way and expect to achieve different results.
“One of the big things about leadership is that you must be firm, you must be bold, you must be courageous to take decisions.
“And we have taken decisions to make sure our people are happy with this administration. We have taken a decision to do the best for people as mandated by Mr president.
“Policies you make may not favour so many people, but what is important is the generality of the people, not a few people who benefit at the detriment of others.
“When you bring a policy that will bring change, so many people will kick against it. Those who benefit will kick against it. But when you are focused and firm, they have no choice than to come back and align themselves with the policies of the government.
“We must take decisions, no matter how hard it is. But what is important is that at the end of the day, the people should benefit from it.
“So nobody should be bothered that there are people who were paid — they have collected the money and everything ended yesterday. We are used to all this so nobody should be worried that people are demonstrating.
“What we want people to ask us is what we have achieved in these few months.”
