Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has advised religious leaders across the country to be wary of politicians with desperate ambitions.
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Wike gave the advice when he met separately with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Dr. Tajudeen Adigun-led Committee of FCT Imams Initiative (CFII) on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the minister, politicians who were desperate for power can do anything to divide the country for their selfish interests.
During the meeting with the national executive of CAN led by its national President, Most Rev. Daniel Okoh, Wike said: “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.
“Be careful with politicians who can do anything just because of power. It is not everything you read in social media that is correct. Go and ask questions.
He continued: “I am seated here as the minister of FCT, if there is anything you here that the FCT is trying to do, do not hesitate, just like you wrote for this courtesy call, do not hesitate to also ask, this thing I am hearing, is it correct?
Wike observed that “there are those who could not face us in the political scene, what they do is to run back to religious leaders and say, do you know this man?
The Minister further urged religious leaders to preach the gospel of support for the country’s political leadership pointing out that once a leader emerges after an election, people should leave their personal views 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. Har decisions are being taken to address the wrong way things have been done. This is not the time to criticise, but to help Nigeria to grow.”
Similarly, the minister told the CFII to be wary of politicians who were not lovers of the country, but angels of disunity in the country.
Wike said: “You have to be careful as religious leaders; don’t allow politicians, those who are desperate and those who think if they are not in power, Nigeria must come down to sell or distort information.
“Anything you are not clear about, do not hesitate to ask, this is what you heard, what is the position? But if you follow propaganda by political leaders then you are not doing anything meaningful to yourself.
“Politics is over; a president has emerged. It is for you the leaders to now pray for 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,” he said.
Earlier, Okoh said the CAN leadership was in his office to declare full support to the Wike-led administration and pray for him to succeed.
He reiterated CAN’s commitment to continue to engage stakeholders and promote social cohesion.
He appealed to the minister to award the contract for the second phase of the rehabilitation of the centre, adding that phase one had been concluded in May 2023.
In the same vein, the chairman of CFII, Adegun, who described Wike as a true Nigerian, pledged the initiative’s support and advice for the growth, development, and unity in FCT.
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