The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, should not be blamed for the recent flooding in parts of Abuja.
Agbese made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday following heavy rainfall at the weekend that submerged areas including Wuse 2, Maitama, the Central Business District and other parts of the capital. The incident had drawn public criticism of the FCT Minister over alleged allocation of green areas and waterways.
Describing the criticism as unfair, Agbese 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.”
He added that “Wike is like the Biblical prophet who is not honoured at home.”
The lawmaker, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, stressed that flooding in an expanding city like Abuja should be treated as a shared responsibility. He noted that rapid development and human activities place additional pressure on drainage systems and natural waterways.
Agbese specifically blamed indiscriminate dumping of refuse for contributing to the flooding, urging residents to stop using drainage channels as dump sites.
“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,” he said.
The statement comes amid ongoing efforts by the FCT Administration to address the causes of flooding, including enforcement actions against structures built on waterways.