Nyesom Wike and his sons
By Victory Oghene
Some Nigerians have taken a swipe at the MInister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, for attending a summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with his two sons.
Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, shared photos of the minister alongside his sons and other officials at the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai. The images, posted on social media, were accompanied by a caption that read: “When e reach your turn, carry your enemies travel.”
The photos showed Wike’s sons wearing summit tags, suggesting they were part of the FCT Administration’s official delegation.
The official delegation, led by the minister, included the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Barrister Benedict Daudu; the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda; the Director of the Department of Development and Control, Mukhtar Galadima; the Director of Engineering Services, Engr. Chuks Udeh; and the Director of Protocol, Sani Musa Daura, among others.
Mrs Aisha Usman, a tech expert criticised the minister on wasting Tax payers money on sponsoring his sons to the summit at a time majority of Nigerians cannot afford a three square meal.
She told NATIONAL WAVES that some government officials are not sensitive to the plight of some Nigerians who are suffering and hungry on account of the skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs
“Can you imagine Wike travelling to a summit in Dubai and still have the effontary to post the pictures online. He has taken Nigerians for a toothless bulldog who can only bark but don’t bite. Enough is enough. It’s just a matter of time, Nigerians will confront this shenanigans”
Some others lambasted Wike via social media platforms.
Many X users described Wike’s action as “unfortunate” and “a display of nepotism,” accusing him of turning an official government trip into a family affair.
Others argued that the inclusion of his sons was inappropriate and undermined public confidence in governance.
Read some of the comments posted by Nigerians on Lere Olayinka’s X handle:
Olawole wrote: “Mocking us to our faces using taxpayers’ money to sponsor your children abroad.”
Legit commented: “Keep defending political rascality. You will live to serve his children. Using state funds to sponsor his children is a slap on our collective face. Who appointed his children into office? Taking Nigerians for fools is the height of insensitivity. APC is terrible.”
Citizen added: “There’s no justification for taking his sons along, and worse still, allowing them to appear in an official capacity. People defend corruption when it benefits them. That’s Lere for you.”
Mansa Hidji II wrote: “When a minister like Wike takes his children instead of ministry staff to official engagements abroad, it undermines institutional growth. Career civil servants lose valuable learning exposure needed to strengthen the ministry’s capacity and continuity. We should do better as a people.”
Megaflexing said: “This is exactly the mindset that has kept Africa backward. Governance should not be about friends or enemies—it should be about competence and the people’s interest.”
Ejo Onyishi commented: “Taking friends and family to an event they’re not needed for, all at taxpayers’ expense, is shameful. The same people telling Nigerians to tighten their belts due to subsidy removal are squandering public funds on luxury abroad. Taxpayers, sorry. Nigerians, wake up.”
However, a few social media users urged restraint, suggesting that the minister’s sons might have attended in a personal capacity or for educational exposure.
