Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has rejected claims that he recently travelled abroad for medical treatment, insisting the rumours were politically motivated.
At the flag-off of a road construction project in Abuja’s Wuye District on Thursday, September 18, Wike criticised those peddling the reports.
“You see, the level of this country where we are, we play politics with everything. How can somebody sit down and just say all kinds of things? Where the people saw me, I don’t know. The hospital you saw me in, I do not know,” he said.
Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State before joining President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet in June, explained that since assuming office, he had hardly taken time off without working.
He added that his recent trip abroad was a conscious decision to prioritise rest.
“This time, I said, whatever it is, I must travel without any file. So, if the whole place will crumble, let it crumble. Because one has to be alive before one can satisfy other people.
READ ALSO: Wike: Nobody Can Blackmail Me Over FCT Projects
“The day you drop, they will announce another person. So, you must make sure while you are working, you also take time out and relax,” he stated.
The minister further lashed out at those behind the rumours, turning the criticism into a joke.
“God will continue to help them have a heart attack. It is my prayer. I will sign the condolences. Very soon, I will tell them that we are sorry. We love them. But, take heart,” Wike said.
His comments followed speculation after his recent trip to the United Kingdom, which some claimed was for medical reasons.
The issue has attracted public attention, reflecting wider concerns about the health of high-ranking officials in Nigeria whenever they travel abroad or are absent from the spotlight.