FCT TSA Exit: Rep Bob Reveals Why Tinubu Accepted Wike’s Bold Proposal

By: Abudu Olalekan

Things are getting heated. Really heated.

Hon. Solomon Bob came out swinging on Sunday. The Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Capital Market didn’t hold back one bit. He was responding to comments made by Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication. And boy, did he have alot to say.

So here’s what happened. Bwala appeared on a television programme on Friday. During the show, he claimed that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had been “adequately compensated.” He also implied that Wike wasn’t letting Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara govern properly. Those words didn’t sit well with Hon. Bob. Not at all.

The lawmaker representing Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Federal Constituency fired back hard. He called Bwala “an insignificant and attention-seeking operator punching above his weight.” Strong words. But he wasn’t done yet. He accused the presidential aide of what he termed “malicious narrative distortion.”

In a statement released from Port Harcourt, Hon. Bob didn’t mince words. He described Bwala’s comments as “cheeky, unwarranted, and stemmed from premeditated bile.” You could feel the frustration in every sentence.

Now let’s talk about the real issue here. President Tinubu’s decision to accept Wike’s proposal for exiting FCT Administration from the Treasury Single Account. According to Hon. Bob, this move shows just how much confidence the President has in the FCT Minister. Its not just about the money. Its about trust.

“You could see that he deliberately pivoted from the question to talk about the Minister having been adequately compensated, whatever that means,” Hon. Bob stated. “He doesn’t understand the Minister’s contribution to this administration.”

The lawmaker went further. He said Bwala “operates on the fringes” and leaves people with the impression that he sees public office as some kind of gravy train ride. Ouch. That’s gotta hurt.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Hon. Bob pointed out something important. The TSA exit wasn’t just approved randomly. It was Wike’s own ingenious idea in the first place. And Tinubu accepting it? That speaks volumes about his faith in the Minister’s ability to deliver results.

“That confidence is rooted in his strong record as Rivers governor, for which even President Buhari honoured him – and Buhari was never enamoured of Wike,” Hon. Bob explained. Think about that for a second. Even Buhari, who wasn’t exactly Wike’s biggest fan, had to acknowledge the man’s work.

The lawmaker also took issue with Bwala’s comments about Governor Fubara. He called it “classic implication framing from a confused individual who dabbles into everything and all things, including those beyond his competence and job description.” Basically, stay in your lane, Bwala.

Hon. Bob didn’t stop there though. He accused Bwala of denigrating his office by mixing personal sentiments with official communications. According to him, Bwala wasn’t actually speaking for the President because “the President knows who bears responsibility for the situation in Rivers.”

Then came the real knockout punch. Hon. Bob suggested that Bwala might still be bitter about Atiku Abubakar’s defeat in the 2023 elections. Remember, Bwala used to work for Atiku before jumping ship.

“Mr. Bwala enthusiastically ran his mouth and spoke out of turn because Minister Wike got Atiku Abubakar on toast,” the lawmaker said. “Atiku was his boss until he jumped ship. Obviously, he is still overcome with a sense of what might have been.”

The irony wasn’t lost on Hon. Bob either. He pointed out that Bwala “grovelled back to get a job in a government made possible by people like the Minister.” Meanwhile, Bwala was busy with what Bob called “typical self-serving rants elsewhere.”

His advice to the presidential aide? Know your level. Be humble. Be greatful for the job you have.

“Despite his pretentions, he doesn’t convince many people that he has the ingredients to function in that capacity,” Hon. Bob concluded.

The battle lines are clearly drawn now. Wike’s camp isn’t backing down. And this TSA debate? It’s far from over. One thing is certain though. Nigerian politics never gets boring. Never.