As nationwide protests erupted on Thursday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was seen at the Presidential Villa in Abuja that afternoon.
Our reporter observed the former governor of Rivers State stepping out of a black Toyota Prado SUV and being escorted into the President’s Office.
Although the specifics of their conversation were unclear at the time of this report, it was believed to be related to the hunger protests that started on Thursday, with the FCT being a focal point.
The FCT experienced large-scale demonstrations as crowds gathered in the central business district and surrounding areas, prompting security officials to use tear gas to disperse the protesters.
In the meantime, the FCT minister mentioned that the Federal Government was willing to engage in discussions with the demonstrators.
Wike made this remark while presenting the Staff of Office to the newly crowned Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba, in Abuja on Thursday.
He praised the protesters for avoiding violence and encouraged them to keep their demonstrations peaceful, emphasizing that it was preferable to have discussions and resolve issues with the government.
“I want you to continue with that peace process, because he who makes peace will, at the end of the day, enjoy the dividends of peace.
“I want to commend you and urge you to still talk to our people, that we are still ready to talk to them, have a dialogue with them and iron out the grey areas.
“We’ll also brief them on certain things they do not know so that they will be well informed to make informed decisions,” the minister said.
Describing Abuja as the nation’s “centre of unity,” Wike said, “Abuja is for everybody; if we lose Abuja, we have lost Nigeria. That is why we have always said, let us work together. There is nothing we can’t achieve under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Give him time, and a lot of things will change.”
Addressing the newly crowned chiefs, the minister stated that traditional leaders have many responsibilities, emphasizing that they are the closest to the local communities and engage more directly with the people.
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He said: “You are the one who knows what the people feel at home; you are the one who will tell us whether the government is making any impact or not.
“You will convey to your subjects what the government is doing and what the government is about to do; you are the one to sell government policies and programmes to your people.
“If you convey a wrong message, that is what the people will accept. If you convey the right message, that is what the people will accept. So, you play a very pivotal role,” he said.
Source: The PUNCH
