Wike defends visit to APC chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, insisting the Abuja meeting was personal and not political

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has defended his visit to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, insisting that the meeting was personal and should not be given political interpretation.

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Wike spoke on Wednesday while inspecting ongoing road projects in Karu, Apo-Karshi and Kubwa in Abuja, a day after visiting Yilwatda at his residence in the Federal Capital Territory.

The former Rivers State governor said politicians from different political parties could still maintain cordial relationships without attracting unnecessary controversy.

According to Wike, he and Yilwatda had known each other long before the latter emerged as national chairman of the APC.

“We were colleagues before he became APC chairman. Should I now hide whenever I see him? Or should he run away from me because people may talk?” Wike said.

The minister explained that the visit was partly in response to previous attempts by Yilwatda to see him.

Wike disclosed that the APC chairman had visited his office several times without meeting him, making his recent visit a natural gesture of goodwill.

Addressing criticism surrounding the absence of an official statement after the meeting, Wike said he was under no obligation to explain his private relationships or personal interactions to the public.

The outspoken minister, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party despite serving in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, said Nigerians should avoid politicising ordinary social engagements.

Wike defends visit to APC chairman amid growing public scrutiny over his political alliances and continued closeness to figures within the ruling party.

He stressed that his priority remains the delivery of impactful infrastructure projects across the Federal Capital Territory rather than responding to political speculation.

“What matters to me is the work I’m doing for the people,” Wike said.

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The minister added that his focus is on justifying the confidence reposed in him by President Tinubu through visible development projects across the FCT.