The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has slammed a senior advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Senator Shehu Sani, over their thoughts on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The trifecta of Wike, Ozekhome and Sani were dignitaries at This Nigeria Annual Lecture and Gold Prize Award, 2024, held in Abuja to celebrate Nigeria’s 25 years of unbroken democracy.
However, Chief Ozekhome was also the guest lecturer of the event and had touched off the ire of the FCT Minister when he read out his lecture without a mention of areas the country had made some noticeable progress in the last 25 years.
He also took exception to the call by Sani for President Bola Tinubu to address the problem of hunger in Nigeria.
Angry Wike tackled the two activists by questioning their competence to make such calls, asking Ozekhome if he had ever rejected briefs from the country’s election – riggers.
The FCT Minister also demanded to know what Sani achieved for Kaduna people as a Senator for many years.
He struck home by putting it to Ozekhome that the SAN has never rejected a job even to defend election – riggers in court.
“So I said that I’ll put this to you and to tell my brother friend, for the main fact that you people were activists does not mean that you’ll do well, no.
“Activists have always failed. We’ve seen activists that were given appointments and yet they failed. When you were in the Senate, how did you perform? What was our performance as Senator?
“And you’re saying something about rigging elections and … as an activist, how many times have you rejected briefs? Those who have rigged elections, you have even defended them.
“So, it is about everytime we come here and postulate, postulate and postulate.
“First of all we’re talking about 25 years of democracy. I know we have challenges but I expected the lecturer to say, ‘yes, we’ve made some progress.’
“In all this lecture, not one progress was made . [It was about] criticism after criticism. Are you telling me that in 25 years, not one progress was made .
“Yes, you can say we’ve made this progress but still the need for us to move forward. Just like Shehu Sani said how they were detained, he didn’t say that under this democracy no Nigerian has found himself under this aspect, that’s progress.
“You’ve said here about infrastructure in FCT, who’s FCT minister working under? Mr President. That means he has the capacity to know those who can help him move the country.”
