- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has labelled Nigerians as professional complainers of government policies in reaction to the controversies that met the 2026 Amended Electoral Act during its passage at the National Assembly.
Wike made this known during his media parley with newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
He recalled how the electronic transmission of results was initially introduced under the administration of the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The policy was according to him, opposed by former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who led the charge for the passage and implementation of the policy under the Tinubu-led administration.
“Nigerians are professional complainers. There is nothing you bring that they will not complain.
“You remember Under Buhari here, the issue of electronic transmission came. People like Rotimi Amaechi they were in government.
“They said no don’t sign. If you sign it, you will lose election.
“And this is the same person now, who is coming out to the public to say there should be electronic transmission.
“But while he was here, he refused simply because his boss would be affected.” He said.
Reflecting on his relationship with Tinubu, Wike claimed that his support of the President in 2023 was based on pure intent without attachment of personal interest.
He said that he declared his support for his presidential ambition long before his appointment as a minister.
“I was not a minister when I said I was going to support President Tinubu.
“I never sat down with him to say if you win, you will give me so, so and so, so thing.” He said.
When asked about the President’s threat to remove him if his performance as FCT Minister favours the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) than the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike expressed his displeasure with the question.
He maintained that Tinubu had only made a joke out of the statement he made last year.
“That is the problem you have. When you see people are cracking jokes, that is the kind of thing you sell out to the public.
“I’m so disappointed that you could say such a thing. You mean where we are cracking jokes, you now take it as a news.
“It is unfortunate. And I think you have passed this level.
“The word keeping your job should not arise at all. I was a governor, now I am a minister. Am I going to die in the position? Who is keeping job?” He said.