The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed a report suggesting that he was denied access to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
The claims were made by independent journalist Jackson Ude on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. Ude alleged that Wike, while drunk, welcomed India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, during his recent visit to Nigeria.
He also claimed an anonymous security officer provided this information.
In response, Wike, through a statement issued by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, described the allegations as false.
The statement clarified that Wike followed President Bola Tinubu’s directives by receiving the Indian Prime Minister at the airport.
It added that Wike also escorted Modi to his hotel and later to the Presidential Villa the next morning.
“Fact is, the FCT Minister led the Prime Minister to his hotel, from the Airport and it was from the hotel that he (Wike) led the Prime Minister to the Presidential Villa on Sunday morning, where his duty ended,” the statement read in part.
Beyond Boders further reports that Wike’s team accused Jackson Ude of spreading falsehoods, highlighting past instances where Ude made similar unfounded claims about other public figures.
The statement concluded with evidence of Wike’s presence during the official events, including photos from the airport, hotel, and Villa, while dismissing the allegations as baseless.
