The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations that he was barred from entering the Aso Rock Presidential Villa due to drunken behaviour.
The claims, made by journalist Jackson Ude on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, alleged that Wike was intoxicated while receiving Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday. Ude further alleged, citing an anonymous security source, that Wike was denied access to the Presidential Villa during Modi’s visit to President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Tuesday, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, described the allegations as unfounded and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the minister’s reputation.
Olayinka clarified that Wike performed his official duties as directed by President Tinubu. This included receiving Prime Minister Modi at the airport, escorting him to his hotel, and accompanying him to the Presidential Villa on Sunday morning.
The statement read:
“Fact is, the FCT Minister led the Prime Minister to his hotel from the airport, and it was from the hotel that he (Wike) led the Prime Minister to the Presidential Villa on Sunday morning, where his duty ended.”
Olayinka criticized Jackson Ude’s credibility, citing previous instances of false claims. He referenced Ude’s earlier allegations that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello had fled Nigeria through Niger Republic, which were disproven when Bello appeared at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters on September 18, 2024.
The statement continued:
“Up till now, Jackson Ude is still spinning lies to defend his initial lies… Now that we have released pictures of the FCT Minister in his hotel with the Indian Prime Minister on Saturday and on Sunday morning at the Presidential Villa, Jackson Ude will try to spin more lies to defend his initial lies. But, as I have said, we won’t be bothered.”
Wike’s camp dismissed the allegations as an orchestrated attempt to misrepresent facts, emphasizing that the minister remains committed to his duties and reputation.
QED
