Call him sycophant par excellence and you will be right. I’m talking about Nyesom Wike here. This Minister of the Federal Capital Territory can bow ten times within a second for anyone in a position of power. I witnessed it first-hand in 2010 during a visit to Rotimi Amaechi in Port Harcourt as governor, and Wike, his Chief of Staff. His genuflecting left me depressed. Wike’s sycophancy is indeed legendary. This is exactly what he is doing to President Bola Tinubu who has given him an unprecedented free rein in the FCT. No serving minister in the Tinubu government enjoys this unrestricted liberty of action/decision. This is why Wike is fascistic in running his show in the FCT. He also has a huge war chest.
The kowtowing Wike is ever ready to bend backwards to show his paymaster that he remains trustworthy. On May 28, 2024, he named the Abuja Southern Parkway, a major road in the FCT, after Tinubu, following its completion. Wike followed up last week by renaming the refurbished Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) after Tinubu. Obviously, more to follow in the coming days from Wike.
The biggest blame of Wike’s charade should go to the President. Honestly, he ought to have discouraged this twaddle by Wike. Tinubu needs to be reminded that that former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida built and commissioned the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos, but rejected the proposal to name it after him. This happened in a military regime where IBB could do whatever he wanted. I also need to remind Tinubu that IBB built the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) and did not name it after himself. So, I can’t understand why Tinubu, a sitting President, would accept the renaming of a renovated edifice after him by the comical Wike; an obvious coarse carrot by the FCT Minister to retain his position.
I suspect Tinubu is enjoying the rubbish by Wike and some other government officials that have joined him to name edifices after Mr. President. A number of such have been named after the President without objections. The Nigeria Immigration Service’s control centre in Abuja is now Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex. Absolutely unnecessary! The renovated library of the National Assembly has been renamed after Tinubu. A newly completed military facility in Asokoro, Abuja was recently named Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks.
Last year, Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State renamed the Minna Airport “Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport.” This one is even more painful because the governor yanked off the name, Abubakar Imam Airport, as approved by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari. The late Abubakar Imam, a journalist and writer, is regarded as the single biggest figure in Hausa literature. He pioneered the first Hausa-language newspaper in northern Nigeria. It is shocking that Tinubu saw nothing wrong with the removal of Abubakar Imam’s name from the Minna airport and the replacement with his own.
For me, Mr. President must discourage governors, ministers and heads of agencies from renaming buildings, roads, schools, airports and the rest after him while still in power. It is obsequiousness of the highest order. He must stop frantic flatterers from messing him up with these ludicrous steps. They are earning him nothing but scorns from worried Nigerians. It is not too late for Mr. President to halt this silly trend. Previous deeds should be reversed. This is the truth that must be told.