Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the presence of his sons on his official trips, saying there is no law preventing them from accompanying him either locally or abroad.
Gatekeepers Newsreports that the minister was reacting to viral photos showing his sons at official events and foreign engagements, including a recent summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Wike insisted that his sons’ travels were lawful and personally funded, describing the criticism as unnecessary.
“What law says that my sons shouldn’t travel? Let the FCT say where they paid ₦1,” Wike said.
“What official matter? Did they sign any document? It doesn’t need to be a personal trip. What’s wrong? I can travel with anybody from the FCT. I can travel with anybody in Nigeria. I have that right.”
Wike added that his sons, both master’s degree holders, needed the exposure that comes from witnessing governance firsthand.
“Oh, come on, they have to know how Nigeria is. They have to learn about government,” he said.
When asked if he was grooming them for politics, Wike dismissed the suggestion, explaining that his sons were pursuing their own interests.
“My first son is a lawyer. He said, ‘No, I’m not going to practise. I want to be a farmer.’ I said, ‘Okay, that’s your choice.’ They’ve gone for training in Spain and Lisbon,” he said.
“My second son finished from King’s College with a master’s degree in Economics. He said he wants to be in real estate.”
The former Rivers State governor expressed satisfaction with his children’s conduct and choices.
“I’m so happy that I have children who have given me comfort, who have not given me problems. Assuming they were somewhere smoking, you would have said, ‘Oh, look at these children now.’ I will not travel with my enemy’s children,” he said.
Wike has been repeatedly seen with his sons at FCT project commissionings and other official engagements — appearances that have sparked mixed public reactions on social media.
