*Ignore ‘busybodies’, President tells him
President Bola Tinubu has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike to ignore busybodies and bystanders but to continue with his good work.
Tinubu made the statement in Abuja, Tuesday while commissioning the rehabilitated Abuja International Conference Centre, built by General Ibrahim Babangida, which the Minister has renamed after Tinubu.
The edifice was constructed in 1991 by the former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, to serve as first-class conference centre, but previous administrations abandoned its regular maintenance.
In April 2024, Nyesom Wike awarded the rehabilitation work to Julius Berger, the company that originally constructed the building at a cost of N39 billion.
The president commended the Minister’s foresight, the vision and the determination to succeed, saying his actions are reflective of people of quality, character and determination.
Tinubu said the centre was dirty, disorganised and uninhabitable when he attended conference of ECOWAS parliament in 2024, and drew the attention of Wike to the deplorable situation which the minister had acted on as required.
“When I attended the conference of ECOWAS Parliament here, it was a very dirty, disorganised, uninhabitable environment.
“Aside from the side talk I had with the Senate President, I turned to Wike and said this conference centre is not reflecting who we are. Have we sunk this low? He said no but bear with us, we will do whatever we can do to transform the place. You won’t come back to find it in a dilapidated state and today I am very happy.
“I am greatly honoured and happy to be here to reopen this International Conference Centre as part of our determined efforts to change the way we do things, to reflect us as people of quality, people of character, people of determination, people of great spirit.
“That is who we are and I am glad that you, Nyesom Wike, are reflecting that.
“Don’t pay attention to the busybodies and bystanders. Whatever they say, continue to do your good work. You are a transformational leader, you have the foresight, the vision and the determination to succeed. Thank you very much.
“Whatever might be wrong today is a sign of the good thing that we are correcting, we are reflecting, renewing our hope and believing in ourselves in what we can do, what we can be a great nation on earth.
“Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are determined to renew infrastructure across the key sectors of this country – transportation, health care, education, energy and urban development”
In his remarks, Nyesom Wike commended the president for his quality leadership and support for FCT administration to succeed.
