The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on an Arise News Channel to ensure accurate interpretation of news reports.
Wike made the call during a ministerial media chat on Sunday evening with select journalists, while responding to an Arise News Channel’s correspondent’s reference to the Supreme Court’s ruling that the FCT holds the status of a state.
According to Wike, the Supreme Court’s interpretation was specific to elections and does not mean that the FCT is officially a state. “That is why in your station, you carry wrong stories,” Wike remarked.
“What the Supreme Court interpreted as FCT having the status of a state is proven by elections. They have the status in elections.”
Clarifying his stance, Wike emphasised that the FCT is not part of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and does not receive direct allocations like states do. “Because FCT is not a state, that is why it is not a member of FAAC. It does not collect from the Federation Account. We only take from what the federal government takes, which is 1%,” he explained.
Wike further admonished the Arise News correspondent, urging him to relay the Supreme Court’s interpretation correctly. “So when you are saying the Supreme Court interpreted, give the proper interpretation,” he stated. “And that’s why when I see what you people do in your station, I say, ‘where are these people coming from?’ Political interpretation that FCT is seen as a state does not mean that FCT is a state.”
The exchange intensified when the correspondent argued that the constitution designates the President as both the President and Governor of the FCT. Wike countered sharply, “How can one person be the President and the Governor at the same time? No, no, no, Mr. Arise, answer the question,” he charged.
When asked about President Bola Tinubu’s commendation of his work as FCT Minister, Wike dismissed the question as being laced with mischief. “Ask yourself the question, how would you feel if your boss says he is satisfied with your work?” he replied. “Even though the question was mischievously asked by Arise, with all due respect, that’s how we will kill journalism.”
Wike also criticised another Arise News Channel anchor for singling him out during the presidential media chat with Tinubu. “That was a presidential media chat. It is so unfortunate that a first-class graduate would pick out a single minister, not to ask a question, but to accuse him of ‘land-grabbing,’” he lamented.
The minister asserted that the TV anchor was ultimately embarrassed after President Tinubu addressed the question. “To the Glory of God, he was embarrassed, and after Mr. President answered, he couldn’t ask any more questions. He was embarrassed shamelessly,” Wike declared.
Concluding his remarks, Wike urged journalists to uphold professionalism and not allow personal interests to overshadow their responsibilities. “Everybody has a role to play to ensure that we do not let personal interests overshadow the truth,” he stated.
