The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said Nigerians must count themselves lucky to have a leader like President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as tolerant of criticisms.
Wike said it is only in Nigeria that a citizen would go on social media to describe the President as a “criminal”, expecting no consequences.
The minister, who spoke in Abuja on Thursday during the flag-off of the Arterial Road N1 in Wuye, was alluding to a recent social media post by activist and ex-presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, who described Tinubu as a “criminal”.
Citing a video where President Tinubu, during his visit to Brazil, said he had eradicated corruption from Nigeria, Sowore 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!”
Commenting on Thursday, Wike said even in America, where citizens freely criticise President Donald Trump, no one would go as far as describing him as 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,” Wike said.
Wike also dismissed rumours circulating on social media that he had suffered a heart attack and was flown abroad for treatment.
“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.”
Earlier, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, had mocked Sowore over the rumour, posting 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.”
Meanwhile, Wike also addressed the indefinite strike by resident doctors in the FCT, noting that the administration had earmarked N25bn for the health sector in the 2025 budget approved in July.
He explained that while issues of allowances and employment of doctors were being considered, 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 said.
Wike also 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 added that once the treasury submitted verified figures for allowances, payments would be made, but stressed that everything must follow procedure.
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