The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vehemently dismissed circulating reports that he collapsed last week, labelling the claims as the work of individuals seeking to score cheap political points.
According to reports, Wike made the statement after inspecting four ongoing projects in the FCT, including the International Conference Centre (ICC).
“I don’t want to give credence to people who are interested in Kangaroo,” he stated. First of all, it is not a ghost that will fall; we are all human. It’s a human being that will crumble. Unfortunately, I did not collapse at the shedding side that I have any health issues, even if they do have serious health issues.
Let me explain what took place. In order to inform the public about the situation, the former head of service for the Rivers State Government came out with a plot to attack national assets and bomb the House of Assembly building.
They must spread the rumor that they have been flown abroad in order to distract those who aren’t paying attention to it. I have never passed out, and I have never been pulled aside for supervision. As you can see, those tales have all stopped. Politics is at play here. We have this plan: people who are focused on their work, don’t annoy us, and aren’t distracted.
Therefore, I want to thank Nigerians for being so concerned that people shouldn’t wish such a thing for their fellow humans. We are aware that death is inevitable. No one will stay on this planet indefinitely. However, only God has the authority to declare that you will die today.
The minister’s clarification came in response to social media posts, particularly on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), which alleged that he had collapsed at an event on Friday in Abuja. These posters further alleged that Wike was transported to an unnamed facility for treatment.
Earlier, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, had already disputed the bogus stories, branding them fraudulent.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also dismissed the claims.
Onanuga criticized the distribution of the fake news in a post on Sunday, calling out “online idiots” for spreading untrue information regarding Wike’s health, including baseless accusations that the minister had a stroke and was transported overseas for treatment.
The reports were unfounded and intended to undermine the minister’s work, both officials reaffirmed.
“Here is Nyesom Wike, the Minister of FCT, reported by some online idiots to have suffered a stroke and flown abroad,” Onanuga wrote, sharing a video of the FCT Minister’s sallah homage to President Tinubu.