Afimag.com –
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Barr Nyesom Wike, has knocked out an online report with the caption: “This ₦300M Armored Lexus LX 600 fitted with ‘FCT – 01’ reportedly belongs to FCT Minister, Wike”.
While reacting to the report during his first project tour at the Abuja Metro station, Wike said the vehicle was not bulletproof as claimed by the reporter but a regular SUV.
The former Rivers State governor urged reporters, bloggers, and media outlets to be professionals while carrying out their duties.
According to him, such false anecdotes would tarnish the image of a famous public figure to put together a disproportionate imagery amongst the citizenry.
Hear him, “We are now going to the office to have a direct report from each of the departments, but I have seen what is going on in the social media, how you (FCTA Permanent Secretary) bought a bulletproof car of N300m that I am using.
“So I want you people to go hit your hand there (on the car) and see whether it is a treated car. With all due respect, people should be careful not to destroy other people.
“When I came, the Permanent Secretary said they have a car for us, and the car we use is this. I have never approved any car to be bought and I have not used an official bullet-proof car. Whether I have cars as governor?
“Yes, as a governor, what do you expect I should have? But, I am not using bulletproof cars as FCT Minister, so we should report the right thing, and not destroy ourselves. I want you to take a look at where you have the flag, and see whether it is a bullet-proof car,” he said.
The minister also faulted a report in a major Nigerian newspaper claiming that he is embarking on a demolition spree targeting 6000 houses across 30 settlements in Abuja as well as the Wadata Plaza. These stories are entirely false and without any basis in reality, he clarified.
Recall that the story on the demolition of 6000 houses was reported by a national daily newspaper and some bloggers on August 22, 2023, with the caption “Abuja land: FG may revoke land allocations, demolish 6000 buildings, slums”.
While other newspaper also published this highly irritating story: “Wadata Plaza will go down, Reactions trail Wike’s demolition threat”.
