TDMany real and imaginary political enemies of Senator Phillip Aduda, have been saying a lot of negative things about him, in both the Social and Mainstream media.
Some have even gone to the ridiculous extent of saying Senator Phillip Aduda and Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the minister of FCT are the ones controlling both APC and PDP in FCT.
At every given opportunity, the Senator representing FCT, Ireti Kingibe, keeps attacking the person of Senator Phillip Aduda, as if he is the one currently representing FCT at NASS; yet, Senator Phillip Aduda, has never spoken about Senator Ireti Kingibe in FCT.
In one of its programmes on Brekete Family radio, one engineer Suleiman Johnson, who lives in Pesseli in Kuje Area Council, talked about how he went to Senator Phillip Aduda for financial help, to enable the people of Pesseli community to construct access road in the community.
In response, Phillip Aduda, made available the sum of One Million Naira, for the project to commence. This gesture of Aduda wouldn’t have become public knowledge if engineer Suleiman didn’t mention it on Brekete radio programme, in early stages of July 2025.
Opinion are divided on the role Senator Phillip Aduda is playing in FCTA, as Aduda is always seen around Wike, particularly, on project sites.
One account has it that Wike’s friendship with Aduda dates back to about twenty (20) years now, and that is why they are always together.
Another opinion has it that when Wike became the minister of FCT, he sought the help of his friend, Aduda, who happens to be an indigene of FCT, to guide him on how to evenly distribute developmental projects in FCT. This, Aduda obliged Wike.
That is why Phillip became, a kind of tour guide to the minister towards even project distribution in the capital city. This fact is likely to be true because Wike has not stayed in FCT long enough, to know almost everywhere.
Although, there has been crisis of compensation for displaced Nigerians by FCT administration in the territory, and it was amicably resolved and Nigerians affected by the demolition exercise became happy, in the end.
The resolution of many crisis of demolition, appeared to have Senator Aduda’s touch, even though, he elected to remain silent over his commendable role in those crisis.
One example was compensation for those affected by road construction in Gishiri community. The compensation rate was increased from what it used to be to a new and respectable rate, by FCTA for those affected, and that made them happy with the authority.
After his shock defeat in the hand of Ireti Kingibe, Senator Phillip Aduda, took the media round the numerous physical projects he attracted in the six area councils in FCT during his stewardship.
Fact later emerged that main reason he decided to take the press round the numerous projects he attracted, was to counter the mischief from his political enemies, that he could not attract any project to FCT, despite his long stay at NASS.
The surprised press members asked him in unison, “why didn’t you showcase all these before the election”?
Senator Phillip Aduda, told the members of the press that it was not in his character to be shouting about what he has done in FCT in the press.
He said maybe his Christian background was responsible for his humble mien.
Now, almost three years down the line, Senator Ireti kingibe, has failed to show the press what she has done for the people of FCT, despite the huge amount of money she has collected for constituency Projects.
The media aid of the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, while replying to one of Ireti Kingibe’s unprovoked attacks on the person of the FCT Minister, asked her to account for about N 3 billion she has collected for constituency Projects in FCT.
She is yet to respond to Lere’s demand. The 50-bed hospital in Dobi, Gwagwalada, she claimed to have started in 2024, no one has heard anything about it, but it has become a daily routine for Senator Ireti Kingibe, to utilise any press interview to criticise Senator Phillip Aduda, who is not at the National Assembly.
The good people of FCT are yet to hear from Ireti Kingibe, what her score card is, this third year of her representation. Only God knows when she will respond to Lere’s demand.
In these attacks, Senator Phillip Aduda, has not even raise his voice to hit back at his political enemies, despite being in a vantage position to do so.
Some political analysts are beginning to see Aduda’s silence as a potent weapon he uses to weaken political opponents.
As 2027 beckons, appreciative Nigerians in FCT will surely respond to Senator Aduda’s silent but impactful strides in FCT with their votes, should he elect to throw his hat in the ring!
Emeka Oraetoka, an Information and Perception Management Strategist, is based in Abuja.
