Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has brushed aside criticism trailing his Tuesday visit to the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, insisting that his interactions are not governed by hostility and that he owes no public explanation for private engagements.
Wike made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Karu, Apo-Karshi, and Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory.
He described the backlash over the visit as an overreaction and a misinterpretation of what he called a normal meeting between former colleagues in government.
He questioned the expectation that political differences should prevent personal contact, saying the controversy had been exaggerated.
“We served together in government before he became APC national chairman. Must I avoid him whenever our paths cross, or pretend not to know him so people can talk?” he said.
According to him, the visit was not unilateral, adding that it was part of a back-and-forth interaction between both men, with Yilwatda previously making attempts to meet him without success.
Reacting to concerns that no official statement was issued after the meeting, the minister maintained that not every social or private encounter requires public disclosure.
He rejected suggestions that politicians from opposing parties must avoid one another, arguing that such expectations are unrealistic.
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party despite serving in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu under the All Progressives Congress-led government, said his focus remains on delivering results in the FCT rather than engaging in political interpretations of his personal relationships.
“What matters to me is service delivery and the mandate I’ve been given,” he added, stressing that governance outcomes are more important than public speculation about his associations.
