By Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has alleged that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal’s criticisms against President Bola Tinubu’s administration waa bone out of personal bitterness for not being chosen as the vice presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Tuesday night, Wike claimed that Lawal’s anger stemmed directly from the selection of Senator Kashim Shettima over himself.
“After Mr. President chose his VP, I was one of those that Babachir Lawal visited,” Wike stated. “He came to my house in Port Harcourt; he came with one of the former speakers of the House of Representatives. What was his anger? His anger was that he thought that Mr. President would have chosen him as the vice-presidential candidate. Having not done that, hell had to let loose.”
Wike’s comments were a direct response to Lawal’s recent description of the Tinubu government as “unapproachable.” The FCT Minister dismissed this claim as baseless, explaining that governance is structured through ministers and officials.
“When he said Mr. President is unapproachable, the government is not approachable, what do you call government?” Wike queried. “I am a minister in charge of the Federal Capital Territory; Mr. A is a minister in charge of Interior; Mrs. B is a minister in charge of Trade, Investment and Industry. Must everybody reach Mr. President? Is that the way government runs?”
When pressed by the programme’s anchor on whether the administration was indeed approachable, Wike responded firmly, “Yes,” insisting that the government remains accessible through its appointed officials.
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