The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said Nigerians should consider themselves fortunate to have Bola Tinubu, whom he described as tolerant of criticisms.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during the flag-off of the Arterial Road N1 in Wuye, Wike noted that Nigeria is the only country where citizens can openly call the President a “criminal” on social media without facing consequences.
He was referring to a recent social media post by former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, who described Tinubu as a “criminal.”
Sowore, citing a video of Tinubu’s visit to Brazil where he claimed to have eradicated corruption in Nigeria, had tweeted: “This criminal @officialpbat actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
Responding, Wike compared Nigeria with the United States, saying that while Americans often criticise Donald Trump, no one would dare call him a criminal.
“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?’ Have you heard that?
“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,” he added.
Wike also dismissed rumours circulating on social media that he had suffered a heart attack and was flown abroad for treatment.
READ ALSO : https://parallelfactsnews.com/abuja-resident-cries-out-as-thugs-rise/
“I hear they have (a) heart attack. God will continue to help them to have (a) heart attack.
“It is my prayer that I will sign their condolences. It’s my prayer that very soon I will write a letter that we are sorry we loved him, but take heart because it’s God that gives and God that has taken.”
His media aide, Lere Olayinka, also mocked Sowore over the rumour, sharing a video of Wike at the project inspection and writing: *“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.”*
Addressing the indefinite strike by resident doctors in the FCT, Wike stated that N25bn had been allocated to the health sector in the 2025 budget passed in July. He said issues regarding allowances and recruitment of doctors were under consideration but emphasized that due process must be followed.
“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.
“Those who say they are being owed allowances, fine. We just appointed an acting Head of Service after the former one passed on. I asked them to check how much is involved. On the employment of doctors, the Civil Service Commission said they had a waiver. Fine, go ahead and employ them. I’m not a doctor.
“(In the) 2025 budget, we set aside N25bn for health capital projects. We got that budget in July from the National Assembly. So people should ask questions before protesting,” he explained.
Wike further warned against politicising the FCT Civil Service.
“If you want to join a political party, go ahead and join. But don’t use the Civil Service to play politics,” he cautioned.
He maintained that once the treasury provided verified figures for allowances, payments would be made, stressing that every process must follow due procedure.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
