- Safiu Kehinde
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained reason behind renaming the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre after President Bola Tinubu.
NPO Reported that the centre was yesterday renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre during its inauguration at the capital territory.
Wike, in his welcome address, recounted how the President had expressed concern over the dilapidated state of the centre during the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) parliament inauguration held there last year.
The FCT Minister disclosed that the President gave the directive for the renovation of the centre built during the military regime in 1991.
According to him, Tinubu held that it badly portrayed Nigeria’s image and such requires to be refurbished.
“It is important for people to understand and know why this is called Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference.
“This conference was built in 1991 under the military government. Since that time, nothing has happened to this international conference.
“Last year, sometimes July, August, we came here to inaugurate the ECOWAS parliament. It was an embarrassment for a country to have this as an international conference then.
“And you said how can we have this as an international conference? That showed leadership. And you said look, next time you want to come here, you want to see a different international conference.
“Within a few months Mr. President, this is what we have. Without your leadership, it wouldn’t have been be possible.
“You are not the only President who have come here. So many Presidents have come here nobody had said this is what Nigeria needs.
“We got to your leadership, you gave the matching order that this is not the quality to show that Nigeria as giant of Africa.” Wike said.
NPO Reported that the President during his remark commended Wike for the renovation of the centre.
He however urged him to keep up with his good works and ignore critics who he labelled as “busybodies” and “bystanders”.