Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his recent visit to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, insisting that the meeting was purely personal and should not be interpreted as a political move.
The visit, which sparked widespread reactions across the political space, came at a time when speculations about alliances and realignments ahead of the 2027 elections continue to dominate discussions within Nigeria’s major political parties. However, Wike dismissed the rumours and maintained that politicians from different parties should not be treated as enemies simply because of their affiliations...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Speaking during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Abuja, the former Rivers State governor explained that Yilwatda had attempted several times to see him officially without success, prompting him to pay a courtesy visit at the APC chairman’s residence instead. According to him, the meeting was a normal interaction between former colleagues and friends, not a secret political negotiation as widely alleged in some quarters.
Wike questioned the growing culture of political hostility in the country, arguing that democracy should not prevent people from maintaining cordial personal relationships. He said he does not subscribe to what he described as “politics of enmity,” stressing that political actors should be mature enough to separate governance from personal relationships.
The FCT minister also rejected criticisms over the absence of an official statement after the meeting, saying he was under no obligation to publicly explain every private interaction he has. He noted that many people were unnecessarily reading political meanings into ordinary social engagements.
Despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Wike currently serves in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a development that has continued to generate debate within the PDP and across the nation’s political landscape. His latest meeting with the APC chairman further intensified speculation about his political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike, however, maintained that his focus remains on delivering infrastructure and development projects in the Federal Capital Territory rather than responding to political gossip. He said what matters most to him is the satisfaction of the president who appointed him and the impact of his work on residents of Abuja.
The minister also used the opportunity to express satisfaction with the pace and quality of several ongoing road projects across the FCT, including projects in Karu, Kubwa and Apo-Karshi. He praised contractors handling the projects and expressed confidence that many of them would be completed in time for activities marking the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration.
