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| Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. |
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said Nigerians should consider themselves fortunate to have President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a leader who tolerates criticisms.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the flag-off of the Arterial Road N1 in Wuye District, Wike noted that Nigeria is perhaps the only country where a citizen can freely call the President a “criminal” on social media without facing consequences.
His comments appeared to reference a recent post by activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who had criticised Tinubu after the President claimed during a visit to Brazil that corruption had been eradicated in Nigeria.
“This is a country where somebody on social media will say Mr President is a criminal; nothing will happen,” Wike said. “You say all kinds of things you want to say, nothing will happen.
“No matter how you see people criticise Trump, have you ever seen any American citizen on social media, or in public, say ‘Our President is a criminal?’ But here, anybody can wake up in the morning and abuse the President, and we are happy. You are lucky you have a President who believes in the rule of law. You are lucky. Continue to be lucky. There are those you will meet that you won’t be lucky again.”
The minister also dismissed rumours circulating online that he had suffered a heart attack and was flown abroad for treatment.
“I hear they say I have a heart attack. God will continue to help them to have heart attacks. It is my prayer that I will sign their condolences,” Wike said.
His aide, Lere Olayinka, also mocked Sowore in a social media post, sharing a video of Wike at the flag-off ceremony with the caption: “FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, flagging off the construction of Arterial Road N1 from Wuye District to Ring Road II, Abuja, today. We didn’t see Online Medical Doctor Omoyele Sowore of Sahara Desert Medical Centre.”
On the ongoing strike by resident doctors in the FCT, Wike explained that N25 billion had been earmarked for healthcare capital projects in the 2025 budget. He assured that allowances and recruitment issues were being reviewed but emphasised the need to follow due process.
“The SSS called me that people said they will demonstrate, that we are paying attention to roads and not to health. I told them demonstrations are allowed everywhere. Nobody will blackmail me or stop me from doing what is right, at the right time,” he said.
Wike stressed that once verified figures were submitted by the treasury, the administration would settle outstanding allowances. He also warned against politicising the FCT Civil Service, urging workers to separate politics from their professional duties.
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