Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly dismissed allegations that he was barred from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa due to alleged drunken behavior.
The claims, made by journalist Jackson Ude on X (formerly Twitter), accused Wike of being intoxicated while welcoming Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday. Ude also alleged, citing an unnamed security source, that Wike was denied entry to the villa during Prime Minister Modi’s visit with President Bola Tinubu.
In a swift response, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, issued a statement on Tuesday categorically rejecting the allegations as baseless. According to Olayinka, Wike dutifully carried out his responsibilities as directed by President Tinubu, escorting the Indian Prime Minister from the airport to his hotel and subsequently to the Presidential Villa on Sunday morning.
Wike’s Office Sets the Record Straight
Olayinka criticized the report as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the minister’s reputation.
“Fact is, the FCT Minister led the Prime Minister to his hotel from the airport. It was from the hotel that he (Wike) escorted the Prime Minister to the Presidential Villa on Sunday morning, where his official duties concluded,” the statement read.
A Pattern of False Allegations
The statement also pointed out Ude’s history of spreading unverified claims, referencing previous accusations involving prominent figures such as former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
“Jackson Ude had earlier claimed that Yahaya Bello fled Nigeria through Niger Republic with the assistance of Defense Minister of State Bello Matawalle. Yet, Yahaya Bello appeared at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on September 18, 2024, debunking Ude’s claims,” Olayinka stated.
Evidence Debunks Claims
In response to the latest allegations, Wike’s team shared photographic evidence of the minister performing his official duties with Prime Minister Modi, both at the hotel and the Presidential Villa.
“Despite these facts, Jackson Ude continues to spin lies to defend his earlier falsehoods. We will not dignify such baseless accusations further,” Olayinka concluded.
This development underscores the challenges of combating misinformation while highlighting Wike’s commitment to fulfilling his ministerial responsibilities amidst unwarranted controversies.
