April 03, (THEWILL) – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said that the social media reports that he collapsed recently in Abuja and was rushed to France for treatment, is a baseless rumour orchestrated to divert attention from the revelation made by the immediate past Rivers Head of Service (HoS), George Nwaeke, regarding the explosion at the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Nwaeke had alleged in an interview on Friday that Governor Siminalayi Fubara masterminded the bombing of the complex of the State House of Assembly in Port Harcourt.
The immediate-past HoS, who recently resigned from his appointment, alleged that “Sir Siminalayi Fubara directed his Chief of Staff to burn down the Assembly in a way to avert his suspected impeachment. That evening, Edison was in Government House with many of his boys, including the former chairman of Obio/Akpor, one Mr Chijioke Ihunwo. I was there with them when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation.”
He further accused the governor of secretly backing the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for the 2027 presidential election and claimed Fubara had been engaging with militants to attack oil installations and other strategic assets in Rivers State.
But Speaking on Thursday, after inspecting four ongoing projects in the FCT, including the International Conference Centre (ICC), Wike claimed the social media reports alleged that he collapsed at an event in Abuja last Week and was rushed to State House Clinic, as baseless rumours.
The reports claimed that the Minister was flown to an undisclosed hospital in France for advanced medical care after suffering a partial stroke
Speaking on Thursday, the Minister said, “I don’t want to give credence to people who are only interested in carrying on baseless rumours. First of all, it is a human being that collapses, not a ghost. Unfortunately for those spreading these tales, I did not collapse.
“What actually happened was that the former Head of Service came forward to reveal crucial information regarding a plot to bomb the House of Assembly complex and attack strategic assets. In a desperate attempt to divert public attention from this revelation, false reports about my supposed collapse were fabricated. They wanted people to focus on me instead of the real issues at hand.”
Wike dismisses any notion of being flown overseas for medical attention, asserting, “At no time was I taken out of the country for treatment. You see me every day. The day Mr President made his announcement, I was there. The very next day, I led Abuja residents to the Sallah Hudah. Yet, as soon as the truth started to surface, these false stories conveniently died down. This is politics. We understand the game, and we remain focused on our job.”
Expressing gratitude to concerned Nigerians, the Minister stated, “I thank Nigeria for the concern and prayers, but let us not wish ill upon our fellow human beings. We all acknowledge that death is inevitable, but only God determines the time. No human being has the power to declare when another will die.
“I’m very happy that most of those who spread these rumors will one day receive condolence letters from me, rather than the other way around.”
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