Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has refuted claims that he was barred from entering the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
The allegations were made by independent journalist Jackson Ude, who posted on his verified X handle that Wike was blocked from the Villa during Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to President Bola Tinubu. Ude further claimed that Wike was intoxicated when he greeted the Indian Prime Minister at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday. He cited an anonymous security officer from the Presidential Villa as his source.
In response, Wike issued a statement through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, denying the accusations. Olayinka clarified that Wike was fully carrying out his duties, having received the Indian Prime Minister as directed by President Tinubu.
According to the statement, Wike led the Prime Minister from the airport to the hotel and then accompanied him to the Presidential Villa on Sunday morning to fulfill his responsibilities.
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.
“Up till now, Jackson Ude is still spinning lies to defend his initial lies. But for us who know his antecedents, we will not dignify him henceforth.
“After all, this same Jackson Ude said in many tweets that the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, had fled Nigeria, through Niger Republic. He even accused the Minister of State of Defense, Bello Matawalle of helping Yahaya Bello to escape to Niger Republic.
“However, the same Yahaya Bello that Jackson Ude said had fled Nigeria showed up at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on September 18, 2024.
“How the same man Jackson Ude claimed ‘Matawalle mobilized eight military personnel to escort to Niger Republic via Kebbi State, through the border town of lllela, in two dark-tinted Hilux pickups and a Land Cruiser’ was at the EFCC office on September 18, he (Ude) has not explained.
“Rather, he has jumped to peddling other lies against high-profile Nigerians, the latest being the FCT Minister. As usual, 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 like I have said, we won’t be bothered.”