Nationwide protests erupted, with significant activity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday. Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Wike, arriving in a black Toyota Prado Sports Utility Vehicle, entered the President’s Office, though the specific topics of their discussion remain undisclosed. It is widely believed that their conversation centered around the ongoing hunger protests.
These protests saw large crowds in the central business district and suburbs of the FCT. Security forces responded by firing tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
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In a statement made while handing over the Staff of the Office to four newly coronated Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba, Wike emphasized the Federal Government’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the protesters. He commended those who maintained peace and urged them to continue on this path.
“I want you to continue with that peace process because he who makes peace will, at the end of the day, enjoy the dividends of peace,” Wike said.
He added, “We are ready to talk to them, have a dialogue, and iron out the grey areas.”
Wike highlighted the importance of dialogue, stating, “We’ll also brief them on certain things they do not know so that they will be well informed to make informed decisions.”
Stressing the significance of Abuja as the nation’s “centre of unity,” Wike remarked, “Abuja is for everybody; if we lose Abuja, we have lost Nigeria. Let us work together. There is nothing we can’t achieve under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu. Give him time, and a lot of things will change.”
Addressing the newly coronated chiefs, Wike emphasized the crucial role traditional rulers play, given their close connection to the grassroots.
“You are the one who knows what the people feel at home; you are the one who will tell us whether the government is making any impact or not. You will convey to your subjects what the government is doing and what the government is about to do. If you convey a wrong message, that is what the people will accept. If you convey the right message, that is what the people will accept. So, you play a very pivotal role,” he said.