The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fiercely defended the decision to rename the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja after President Bola Tinubu, using uncouth speech to slam critics of his move.
Wike stated that “those who want to die should die as he has lands for burial.”
The minister made the comments on Friday during the inauguration of the Left-hand Service Carriageway of the Outer Southern Expressway from Apo-Wasa, a road project estimated to have cost the country N39 billion.
Speaking on the newly renovated ICC, Wike lashed out at opponents of the renaming, asserting that their disapproval lacked merit and patriotism.
“You know, there are people naturally, they don’t have good taste. They don’t have good taste,” Wike said.
He added, “The only thing in that International Conference Center that was not changed, is just the block.”
“Everything in that International Conference Center, everything was changed. If you love this country, you cannot criticise.”
“It’s not about I wear only one shoe, telling people lies. It’s a lie. It’s not about, oh, I carry my bag. No.”
Wike went further to justify the renaming by comparing the gesture to past precedents.
“Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport was not built by Nnamdi Azikiwe. Moshood Abiola Stadium was not built by Moshood Abiola.”
In a more controversial remark, the FCT Minister issued a scathing dismissal of those who oppose government policies, saying he cared little about their opinions or even their fate.
“I don’t normally watch them. I don’t like to know people’s names who don’t have anything to offer.
“If you want to die, I have a lot of land. I have land to give you where they will bury you. Africa’s population is too high. So if you want to die, you die,” Wike said.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the conference centre built in 1991 had been renamed after President Bola Tinubu.
During his speech at the official inauguration event for the conference centre, Wike attempted to justify the controversial decision to rename the centre after Tinubu, attributing the successful renovation to the President’s leadership.
He said, “It is important for the public to know and understand why this is called Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre. This conference centre was built in 1991 under the military government.
“Since that time, nothing has happened to this International Conference Centre. Last year, July/August, you (Tinubu) came here to inaugurate the ECOWAS Parliament. It is an embarrassment for a country to still have this as an international conference (centre) then, and you said, ‘how can we have this’? That shows leadership.”
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