Stop fighting Wike, Nataro tells APC governors

A former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Kebbi state, Mallam Salihu Isa Nataro, has said that APC governors should stop fighting the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the campaigns for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.

Nataro, a public sector reform advocate, said he had been advising state and federal governments to cut the cost of governance and embark on only projects that had relevance to the socio-economic needs of the people.

He noted that the need for crucial reforms in the public service was dictated by the fact of the unproductive nature of civil servants, stressing that state governors should run away from  indebtedness and concentrate on priorities projects that would reduce the plight of the masses rather than serving their personal interest.

Mallam Nataro, who is also an auditor by profession, said FCT projects were entirely different from those of the state governments due to the level of infrastructure demand and lack of maintenance culture.

While urging for collective support for the FCT Minister, the APC chieftain noted that it was in the best interest of the Tinubu administration and APC for Wike to continue doing the good works he had started in the FCT.

He stated: “I think there is no need for the governors to be fighting against Wike, because he is supporting APC and President Tinubu. Moreover, the work that Wike is doing for FCT is best for the population, so criticising him amounts to aiding the work of the opposition.

“The talk of probing Wike if the opposition wins the presidential election sounds irresponsible, because as a former governor, the workaholic Wike has been following due process in the execution of public projects.

“Media trial of public officers on false corruption charges is unacceptable to us and should be condemned. APC governors should know that Wike is the Governor of FCT, as such they should do everything possible to make sure that he enjoys same privileges that others are currently enjoying.”

Nataro regretted the absence of independent auditors in all activities, noting that the fading culture had given room for suspicion.

He, however, affirmed that Wike had been discharging his duties responsibly and constitutionally, but however regretted that he lost his plot of land in Maitama.

“So, despite the unfortunate loss of my plot of land, I will never support our governors in their attacks on Wike. If any case of corruption is being alleged, the blame should rest squarely on the absence of auditing techniques in our civil service structure.

“If in future Mr Wike contests for the presidency, I know people like me will not hesitate to mobilise support and do everything possible to elect him as president on account of what he has been able to achieve in the FCT.

“However, I will urge the FCT Minister to explore ways to make the FCT administration less dependent on Federal Allocation, based on the abundant investment opportunities in the area. Also, the Minister should look into the issue of duplication of functions, which could lead to drastic reduction of staff to 60%.”