Wike upgrades Etsu-Kwali to first class chief …pledges to construct new befitting palace Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Monday announced the elevation of the traditional ruler of Kwali, Etsu Kwali, His Royal Highness, Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, to the status of a First-Class Chief. Wike made this known during his thank-you visit to Kwali Area Council . Addressing a jubilant crowd in Kwali, the minister explained that the decision to upgrade the status of the monarch was in recognition of his unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu, as well as his significant contributions to the promotion of peace, unity, and the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the Gbagyi people. The Minister emphasized that President Tinubu is highly pleased with the Etsu Kwali’s leadership and has personally pledged to visit the community to convey his gratitude to the royal father. To further honor the upgraded traditional stool, the Minister added that the FCT Administration will also construct a new, befitting palace for the Etsu Kwali. He stressed that since the traditional ruler had kept his word to support the President’s vision, the government was duty-bound by the powers conferred on him as the Minister to elevate the stool and improve the traditional infrastructure of the domain. The Minister said, “Today, by the grace of God, you have fulfilled the promise you made to Mr. President and he has promised to come personally to thank you; we will also fulfill the promises we have made to you. “Let me add here that the traditional ruler will have a befitting palace. Let me also say that the traditional ruler told me before now that they are going to support Mr. President and I have seen it. I hereby, by the powers conferred on me, upgrade his stool to first class stool”. Wike also used the occasion to commend the outgoing Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Hon. Danladi Chiya, along with the Chairman-elect, Nuhu Daniel Kwali for their dedicated, people-oriented policies that have served the grassroots and pledged the continued support of the FCT Administration for the development initiatives in Kwali Area Council, adding that he will fulfill all the promises he made to the outgoing chairman towards the development of the Council. Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Danladi Chiya, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the residents to the FCT Minister for his consistent support to the Area Council. He also expressed delight at the unfolding political trajectory in Kwali, noting that since the creation of the Council, no political party has ever produced a chairman “back-to-back”, along with all ten councilors. The Chairman described this electoral sweep as unprecedented and reaffirmed the Council’s total and continued support for the administration of President Tinubu. He, however, appealed to the Minister to assist the Council in reconstructing a bridge that connects Kwali to Kuje Area Council as well as Nasarawa State as earlier promised. In his goodwill message, the Etsu of Kwali, HRH, Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, described the Minister’s visit as unprecedented in the history of Kwali Area Council. He said it was the first time any Minister of the Federal Capital Territory would pay a thank you visit to Kwali Area Council to appreciate the electorate for their support in an election. He said the visit has greatly endeared the Minister to the people of Kwali, while appreciating the Minister for making it possible for the people of the Area Council to make their choice of leaders and to successfully vote them in, in the recent Area Councils elections, moreso, in an atmosphere of peace and order. Speaking at the event, the Chairman-Elect, Kwali Area Council, Nuhu Daniel Kwali, stated that the laudable projects of the FCT Minister in the Council had made it easy for him to clinch victory at the polls. Kwali also soughed the Minister’s support in building a befitting palace for the Etsu of Kwali, who currently had none, and the Minister promised to build one.