“Why I Don’t Feel Safe In Abuja” – Wike

By Adesina Soyooye

While not saying that the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, where he holds sway as Minister, is not safe, its Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that personally, there have been occasions where he did not feel safe and had to quickly leave.

Speaking during his usual Monthly  Media Chat on Tuesday in Abuja, Wike said that on two occasions, he had had to quickly leave because of the crowd who massed on seeing him. Even worse, on one of those occasions, the notorious miscreants waited for him, asking for money. He did not, however, disclose whether he gave them money to appease them or not.

The first time, the Minister  said, he had gone alone, without his security details, to a top class restaurant to eat.

As he settled in to order his meal, Wike said about  50 people came to him to greet him. They came in a rush. At such times, the Minister noted, one does not know who is who as not all of them will be admirers. All may not have been, he said, because of his popularity.

According to Wike, he quickly excused himself and told those who took his order not to bother as he would come back next time.

On the second occasion, the Minister said he had gone to the newly refurbished Abuja City Gate to relax.

Recall that First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has just honoured Wike with an award for the beautiful job he did at the gate. She told Wike that posterity would remember him.

So, this day, to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of the Abuja City Gate, Wike said he went there to relax. But he was not allowed that luxury as he said that suddenly, a crowd surrounded him. He quickly left, out of concern for his safety. The Minister, however, did  not disclose whether he was there with his security aides or not. But he said he left.

Wike: “There was a day I went to one of the restaurants to eat, and I didn’t go with security. Upon my arrival, I encountered over 50 people coming to greet me, and I didn’t know what to do. Of course, I didn’t feel safe; you can’t interpret that as people liking you.

“I told the restaurant workers that I would come back, but at that point, I was no longer comfortable. As soon as I stepped outside, I saw some miscreants waiting for me to give them money.

“I also went to the city gate to sit down and met a few people. Suddenly, as word of my presence spread, people started trooping in, and I had to take off”.