The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has shared insights into his cordial and respectful relationship with Nigeria’s First Lady, Remi Tinubu.
Naturenex reports that Wike praised the First Lady, describing her as a humble and dedicated figure who is fully invested in the progress of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
While speaking during his monthly media chat with journalists in Abuja on Monday, the FCT Minister highlighted Mrs. Tinubu’s genuine commitment to the administration’s success. He noted that despite public assumptions, she has never attempted to influence land allocations or government contracts.
Addressing his personal rapport with the President’s wife, Wike stated, “On my relationship with the current First Lady, if you are not close to people, you won’t know how humble they are, how supportive they are.”
He added, “I have seen First Lady’s at the local government levels, I have seen First Lady’s at state level and national level and I can tell you of the truth that this is a First Lady of a different kind.”
Wike went on to recount an incident that left a lasting impression on him. “Being FCT Minister, you will be thinking that the First Lady will be mounting pressure on me but you know what baffles me, I was going to Wassa and my phone rang, it was the ADC to the First Lady and he said hold on for the First Lady.”
“Do you know what she said, ‘I don’t know if they have brought it to your attention, if you are going to the Villa, all the roads there are bad, now that the President is not in town, you should see what you can do.’”
According to Wike, rather than making personal demands, Mrs. Tinubu has consistently demonstrated a sincere concern for public welfare and governance. “Talking about the success of government and your own success, she has never called me to say I hear that you are sharing land or all these contracts you are awarding.”
He narrated how swift action was taken after her call. “I quickly called Julius Berger who was working at the ICC and they mobilized there and went straight to put that road in good condition.”
Another encounter, Wike recalled, came while he was away on official duties abroad. “What humbled me – I was in China and they didn’t know I travelled but my ADC informed me that the First Lady’s ADC called that she wanted to speak to me – when I called back – he said the First Lady said we should thank you for the road – humility, calling me and thanking me for doing that road.”
Wike further noted her continued interest in the development of Abuja’s infrastructure. “Another day she called that ‘is there nothing you can do to design the City Gate so that anybody entering will know that they are entering the city? That is somebody who has the interest of government at heart.”
He pointed out that “She didn’t say you know I’m broke, is there nothing we can do to change that City Gate and I immediately called Julius Berger to design it.”
To underscore her integrity and genuine intentions, Wike said, “There is not a day she called that this my friend is looking for contract or land. Her interest is the success of the government which is mixed with humility – these are the role people play to make the government to succeed. She is somebody who wants the success of the administration.”
