The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed public speculation surrounding his recent visit to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, insisting that his engagement was driven by personal association and not political alignment.
Wike spoke with journalists on Wednesday during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Karu, Apo-Karshi, and Kubwa, where he also addressed concerns about the visit and the absence of an official briefing on it.
According to him, there was no need to publicly announce what he described as a private interaction, stressing that he is not obligated to disclose his personal movements.
“I don’t play politics of enmity,” Wike said, while defending his interaction with the APC chairman.
He argued that political differences should not prevent personal or professional relationships, questioning the expectation that individuals in opposing parties must avoid one another.
“We’re all colleagues before he left for the chairmanship of APC. So what I should do anytime I see him is to hide? Anytime he sees me, he should run away so people will not say something?” he asked.
Wike explained that the visit was also a response to earlier unsuccessful attempts by Yilwatda to meet him at his office, noting that his busy schedule often makes such engagements difficult.
He said he eventually chose to visit the APC chairman at his residence to accommodate the interaction.
The FCT Minister maintained that his focus remains on delivering his mandate and satisfying those who appointed him, rather than public interpretation of his actions.
“What’s important to me is what I’m doing for my people,” he said, adding that the impact of his work outweighs political speculation or public commentary.
