Wike denies rift with Tinubu, explains absence at Council of State meeting
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims of a rift with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, explaining that he was absent from last week’s Council of State meeting due to prior official engagements. Reports had suggested that Wike boycotted the meeting after President Tinubu allegedly rejected his preferred candidate for the […]
Wike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims of a rift with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, explaining that he was absent from last week’s Council of State meeting due to prior official engagements.
Reports had suggested that Wike boycotted the meeting after President Tinubu allegedly rejected his preferred candidate for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The president had presented Professor Joash Amupitan to the council for confirmation, while Wike was said to have lobbied for Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman.
However, speaking on Tuesday during the commissioning of access roads in Dakibiyu District, Abuja, Wike said he had informed the president beforehand that he would not attend the meeting and had directed the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, to represent him.
“Sometime last week, Thursday, we had a flag-off ceremony, and I told the Minister of State, FCT, to represent me at the Council of State meeting. I had already told Mr President that I would not be available because of other engagements we had already put in place,” Wike said.
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He described the reports linking his absence to dissatisfaction over the INEC appointment as “unnecessary propaganda and blackmail,” urging the public to disregard them.
“That is why we have to be careful when people carry unnecessary propaganda and blackmail. But in spite of those things, be focused and you will achieve your results. They said I did not attend because I was not happy that my own nominee was not taken,” he added.