Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has said that the appointment of ex-Governor Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, will mark the first time a Southerner has been appointed to that position since 1976.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Omokri said since Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun was appointed to that position in 1976 by a former Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, no Southerner has attained the position.
While reacting to the latest development, Omokri also stated that no indigene of FCT has been appointed as minister.
His words: “It has taken forty-seven years for a non-Northerner to occupy that position again and coincidentally, just like in 1976, the person was appointed by a fellow Southerner.
“Sadly, the original indigenous people of the area now known as the Federal Capital Territory have never been appointed minister. Hopes had been high that the President would appoint the first FCT indigene ever nominated as a minister, Zephaniah Jisalo, to that position. But we have seen the way the cookie crumbled.”
President Bola Tinubu yesterday released the portfolios for the 45 confirmed ministers-designate.
The list, released in a statement, included former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike as Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Festus Keyamo as head of the Aviation Ministry, while Dele Alake will man the Solid Minerals Development Ministry.
Other ministers are Wale Edun (Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy), Adegboyega Oyetola (Transportation), David Umahi (Works), Festus Keyamo (Aviation and Aerospace Development), and Betta Edu (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation).
