Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports of a fallout with President Bola Tinubu, describing the claims as “unnecessary propaganda and blackmail.”
Wike addressed the controversy on Tuesday during the commissioning of access roads in Sector Centre B of the Daki Biyu District, Abuja — days after a high-profile Council of State meeting where Prof. Joash Amupitan was confirmed as chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission.
Explaining his absence from the meeting, Wike said it was due to earlier commitments and not a protest.
“Sometime last week, Thursday, we had a flag-off. And I told the minister of State, FCT, to represent me at the Council of State meeting.
I had already told Mr President that I would not be available because of other engagements we had already put in place,” he stated.
His remarks came in direct response to a report by Sahara Reporters, which alleged that he deliberately boycotted the meeting after the President rejected his preferred nominee, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, for the INEC chairmanship.
Wike strongly refuted the claim:
“They said I did not attend because I was not happy that my own nominee was not taken. I work for Mr President. Mr President’s judgement, as far as I’m concerned, has always been about putting this country in the right perspective.”
He urged his team to ignore distractions and focus on delivering visible results that would silence critics.
“Be focused. When you start delivering, the achievement will silence all critics. Today, they have nothing again to say,” he added.
Wike further commended President Tinubu’s leadership, crediting it for the accelerated pace of development projects in the FCT.
“I have always said that when you have the right leadership, you can achieve the expected results. Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has shown the right leadership. And that is why we are able to achieve,” he said.
