Days after being singled out for praise by President Bola Tinubu, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside his two sons, paid a Christmas Homage to the President at the latter’s private residence in Lagos, on Thursday.
LEADERSHIP reports that such visit during festive seasons is a comonplace in Nigeria by political office-holders, religious leaders and other stakeholders to the President and Governors in their respective States.
Recall that earlier on Mondau, President Tinubu commended Wike for his performance in the nation’s capital since assuming office, saying his quest to make things right was commendable.
The president gave the commendation during his first presidential presidential media (PMC) chat with select senior journalists in Lagos on Monday night.
When asked about the controversies surrounding Wike given his governance style in the FCT, particularly regarding ongoing demolitions of illegal structures, allegations of land grabbing against the Minister and revocation of land titles, Tinubu responded, saying Wike “is a good man” and a “performing minister,” highlighting the FCT Minister’s commitment to ensuring compliance with regulations in the FCT, a trait he said Nigerians often lacked.
“Nyesom Wike is a good man, he is a performing minister. Nigerians lack compliance, period!” Tinubu said. “We don’t pay our ground rents on time. We see compliance as inconveniences. I doff my hat for him.”
Recall that President Tinubu nominated Wike and thereafter assigned FCT Ministry on August 16, 2023, following his screening, and confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, was among 28 ministerial nominees sent to the 10th Senate by the president on July 27, 2023. During his screening on July 31, 2023, Wike assured the Senate and Nigerians that Tinubu would not regret nominating him for a ministerial role.
“Mr. President will not regret nominating me as a minister in his cabinet,” Wike had said during his Senate screening in 2023.
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