Wike to religious bodies: This isn’t time to criticise… pray for Tinubu to succeed

Nyesom Wike, ministerof the FCT, has advised the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Committee of FCT Imams Initiative (CFII) to be wary of ambitious politicians. 

Wike gave the advice on Wednesday when executive members of CAN, led by Daniel Okoh, its national president, and those of the CFII, led by Tajudeen Adigun, its chairman, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Ahmad Gumi, prominent Islamic scholar, had asked President Bola Tinubu to remove Wike as FCT minister

Gumi had said if Tinubu does not axe Wike, they will not be on the same page.

Speaking at separate meetings with the religious groups, Wike said politicians that are desperate for power could do anything to divide the country for their selfish interests.

Wike noted the need for religious leaders to always ask questions before taking an action and urged the clerics to pray for the leaders of the country.

“Let me advise all of us. You say you are not politicians, but be careful about politicians. Be careful with politicians who are so desperate to get power,” Wike said during his meeting with CAN.

“Be careful with politicians who can do anything just because of power. It is not everything you read in social media that is correct. Ask questions.

“If there is anything you hear that the FCT is trying to do, do not hesitate to ask questions so that we will be able to defend the government and defend ourselves.”

The minister noted that opposition politicians who could not face the victorious ones on the political turf usually ran back to religious leaders with tales of hatred.

He said once a leader wins an election, people should leave their personal view and pray for the leaders to succeed so that the country will succeed.

“God has voted a president for this country; pray for him to succeed. Harsh decisions are being taken to address the wrong way things had been done,” he said.

“This is not the time to criticise, but a time to help Nigeria to grow.”

The minister promised that the FCT administration would continue to support the National Christian Centre and the National Mosque, which he described as “national assets’’.

He also promised to visit the two national monuments to assess the state of rehabilitation so as to determine the nature of assistance that would be needed.

“We will continue to support the National Mosque and the National Christian Centre,” he said.

Earlier, Okoh said the CAN leadership visited to declare their support for the Wike-led administration and to pray for him to succeed.

He reiterated CAN’s commitment to continue to engage stakeholders and to promote societal cohesion.

At his meeting with the Imams, Wike also told the CFII to be wary of politicians who do not love Nigeria but are after disunity.

“You have to be careful as religious leaders; don’t allow desperate politicians and those who think if they are not in power, Nigeria must come down to sell or distort information,” he said.

“Do not hesitate to ask questions about anything that you are not clear about. If you follow politicians’ propaganda, you are not doing anything meaningful to yourself.

“Politics is over; a president has emerged. It is for you the leaders to now pray to God to guide the president, give him the wisdom, and bring out ideas on how the nation will grow.

“If he fails, Nigerians have failed.”

On his part, Adigun described Wike as a true Nigerian and pledged the initiative’s support for the development and unity of the FCT.