Jonathan Idi, popularly known as Tito is the All Progressives Congress (APC) Councillorship Candidate for Nyanya Ward in 2026 FCT Council polls. In this interview with NIGERIA PROJECT, he shares his plans for the Ward if voted in as a Councilor.
By Emmanuel Lar, Abuja
Why are you vying for Nyanya Ward Councillorship?
I have been around here for sometimes now; therefore. I know what electorates in the Ward are yearning for, which is dividends of democracy. They want to see that their lives get better through good representation. As a Councilor representing the Ward, you need to do a lot of work so that they can feel the impact of your representation. They know me and my capacity, which is why they are clamoring for me.
How long have you been into politics?
I have been into politics for long and have been part of the success of the past Councilors including the current one, who happens to be the AMAC Speaker. I’m a grassroots politician and a mobiliser. So, I’m not a new face. I grew up here and have been in politics right from my early school days, even before going to Kaduna Polytechnic.
What are the three major things you want to do for the electorates if voted in?
Just as I earlier said, I was raised here in Nyanya, I know what the people need from me. You can see for yourself the terrible nature of the roads. Though as a Councilor, you may not have that financial capacity to fix roads. But as a Councilor, I’m going to push the necessary organs of the government to see how the roads can be fixed. This, of course, is the duty of a Councilor. You can facilitate for projects to be sited or carried out in your Ward. I’m not going to sit down and fold my hands, I need to push so that my Ward can get the needed dividends of democracy. Roads are very important. I will partner and lobby with necessary organs of government like the FCT minister and other agencies to fix Nyanya roads.
My second agenda is to bring the youths out of poverty. Nyanya is a unique place in FCT. In this place, every tribe in Nigeria is well–represented here. As you have the huge population, also the huge number of poverty especially among the youths. In order to reduce youths’ restiveness, if God gives me victory at the poll, the welfare of the youths is my priority. I will partner with relevant organisations to give grants and soft loans to them, so that they can go into their own businesses and become self-reliance.
I will also involve in empowering programmes aimed at giving them the mental and financial capacity to handle their businesses. Not only the youths; market women, business owners especially small scale business owners, will all be part of the empowerment programme. The idea behind that is to create means of livelihood for them in order to reduce poverty.
All of that is achievable through proper legislation, planning and relating well with those that are occupying higher political offices in the FCT, like the chairman and the minister. Politics is to lobby for the betterment of the electorates.
You’re a close ally of the current Councilor. Are you not looking at it as contesting against him is a betrayal of trust?
The current Councilor is my good friend and brother. But you should note that politics is all about interest. Nyanya is a mini-Nigeria – you have the Igbos, Igalas, Tivs, Yorubas, Hausas, and Idomas and so on. In this Ward; Igala, Hausa, Igbo and other languages were all Councilors at one-time. Like the current Councilor (the speaker of AMAC), he is an indigene. So, there is nothing like betrayal. He is about rounding off his two-term in office, and now he’s going for third term.
Whatever I’m doing, I carried the people along. When I consulted my Ward and they actually needed a new person, and the opportunity fell on me, I gladly accepted it. It gives me joy because the electorates in Nyanya Ward chose me and I’m very happy because, politics is all about interest. I can’t say no, when the coast is very clear for me. I was fully behind him and gave him maximum support during his two-term.
When he was running for the position of Speakership, I was running up and down campaigning for him until he got it. He is almost completing his two-term, but now wants to go for third term. Though he can go for as many times as possible, but the point here is that the people needed me, and when they called on me, I obliged because politics just as other life endeavour, is all about interest. We are not quarrelling or fighting. I’m not in the race to drag with anybody, but to bring the much needed dividends of democracy that the people of Nyanya Ward are yearning for. Thank God we are not in the same political party – he is in PDP while I’m in APC.
Did you discuss your political ambition with him before you entered the race?
When he wanted to contest for the second term, I was also wanted to contest. But the party leaders pleaded with me to step down for him because of the speakership position. The leaders of my party, which was PDP then said, he would stand a better position to get a speakership position if he returned for the second term, which I agreed. He even said then that if he completed his second tenure, he would support anybody that wants to vie for the Councillorship position especially myself. Unfortunately, from his body language, I knew early enough that he wanted to go for the third term and that is the reality now.
When my boss, the Executive Chairman of AMAC left PDP for APC, I also followed him. It’s very unfortunate that people don’t longer keep to their promises; which is a moral burden. Ordinarily, he ought to be the one to call me to get prepare based on the agreement, but he chose the other way.
So, he was aware from the beginning that I would contest if he completes his second tenure, therefore, there is nothing like betraying him; it’s the other way round because he could not fulfill simple gentleman’s agreement, which is very unfortunate.
You’re so popular among the youths; what is the secret?
You see, life is not the way majority of people are carrying it. I’m very close to them, and don’t forget that I told you that I grew up in this place. I’m close to the youths because I learnt early in life the power of association and humility. I mingle with them and relate with all of them irrespective of their background. I don’t used to drive, not because I don’t have a car. I prefer walking with them on the streets. Anytime they need my assistance, even though I can’t meet up all their demands, I make sure I do my best. You don’t need to underrate anybody because you don’t know what tomorrow holds.
Those you neglect or abandon today, may be your helpers tomorrow. I’m very close to them, they love me and I also love them. They are my partners in this project, and by God’s grace, victory is sure.
