The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has proudly declared that he bought his Rolls-Royce with his own money and not as a gift from any contractor.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Friday, Wike defended his ownership of the luxury car despite holding public office, stressing that “nobody can do without money.”
He emphasized that he personally financed the vehicle, saying “no one gave him the Rolls-Royce — he bought it himself.”
Wike also claimed to come from a financially stable background, stating that his father had been a general manager for several companies and owned multiple duplexes.
In contrast, he alleged that a contractor had gifted a Rolls-Royce to former governor and ex-Minister Rotimi Amaechi, a gesture Wike said he would never accept.
Maintaining his innocence, Wike said he had never been convicted of corruption, explaining that his appreciation for money doesn’t equate to corruption.
He accused Amaechi of dishonesty, criticising his public claim of disliking money, and calling him “a big liar.”
Wike went further to suggest Amaechi may have a “spiritual problem” for accusing him of owning numerous properties.
Wike stated, “I have a Rolls-Royce.” When asked who gave it to him, he replied that “nobody gave him a Rolls-Royce; he bought it himself.”
When asked with what money he bought it, he said, “Come let me tell you. Before harmatan, there was cold. I didn’t come from the same background with Rotimi Amaechi.”
Asked whether he was wealthy in the past, Wike responded, “As a student, I was using a Mercedes Benz. My father was a general manager of so many companies. I will not say too rich for the Dangotes. But I had a small background. I’ve not denied here.”
According to Wike, Amaechi got upset after seeing him use the Rolls-Royce.
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“It was not given to me by a contractor, those who are doing jobs with me? No.”
“A contractor gave him (Amaechi). That was pride. He took from a contractor. I will not do that.”
When asked if he was corrupt, Wike said, “What do you mean by the word corrupt?”
“No court has found me guilty to be corrupt. When you say the word corrupt. Nobody can do without money.”
“He cannot say because I said, I need money to solve this. Therefore, I’m corrupt. No. No. I need money to pay my children school fees.”
“I need money to take my family’s health care. Does that make me to be corrupt? No. But when a man comes in the public to say, I don’t like money. You know that man is a big liar.”
“Because he needs money to solve this problem, to solve it. We’re not going to that. I’m not a bushman. No, I’m not.”
“And from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor local government, my father was one of few people who have duplexes in some road. So you cannot say that not too rich. I agree. But you cannot say that. Not at the level Ameachi came from. No, no.”
“It’s not comparable at all. Never. Never. Now he said, I have houses. Amaechi was speaker for 8 years, I mean a governor for 8 years, Amaechi was a minister for 8 years. And he said he doesn’t have houses. He has a spiritual problem.”
