The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has criticized Shehu Sani and Mike Ozekhome, SAN, for their comments on the current administration. These comments were made during the This Nigeria Annual Lecture and Gold Prize Award, 2024, held in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy.
Chief Ozekhome, who was the guest lecturer at the event, delivered a speech that upset Wike. Ozekhome’s lecture, which did not highlight any areas where the country had made progress in the past 25 years, was met with disapproval from the FCT Minister. Wike was particularly annoyed that Ozekhome’s lecture focused solely on criticisms without acknowledging any achievements.
Additionally, former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani’s call for President Bola Tinubu to address the issue of hunger in Nigeria was also not well received by Wike. He expressed his displeasure with Sani and Ozekhome by questioning their integrity in making such statements.
Wike specifically challenged Sani by asking what he had accomplished during his tenure as a Senator. He then questioned Ozekhome on whether he had ever declined a legal brief, suggesting that Ozekhome had consistently taken on cases, even defending those accused of rigging elections.
Wike stated, “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 every time we come here and postulate, postulate and postulate.”
Wike continued his critique by highlighting the significance of acknowledging progress during such discussions. He added, “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.”
Wike’s remarks underscore his frustration with what he perceives as a lack of recognition for the progress made in Nigeria over the past 25 years. He believes that while it is essential to address the challenges facing the country, it is equally important to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements that have been made. His comments also reflect a broader concern about the role of activists and public figures in shaping public discourse, questioning whether their criticisms are constructive or merely detrimental to national progress.
By emphasizing the need for a balanced perspective that includes both criticisms and acknowledgments of progress, Wike aims to foster a more constructive dialogue about Nigeria’s future. This perspective, he argues, is crucial for building a more positive and forward-looking narrative about the country’s development and democratic journey.
