Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wikeand Jackson Ude, a Nigerian US-based investigative journalist are currently at war of words as the latter reportedly accused the former of being drunk during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to the presidential villa.
Ude, in a post on his verified X account has alleged that security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja were reportedly taken aback on Sunday when they noticed something unusual about Wike when he came to welcome the visiting Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
According to Ude, the security personnel sensed that something was amiss with Wike as he interacted with the Indian leader.
“The situation quickly escalated when it became apparent that Wike, who had apparently indulged in his favorite 40-year-old whiskey, was visibly slurring his speech”.
He claimed that a senior security operative who requested to remain anonymous, had said the behavior of the Minister was difficult to ignore.
“We knew something was terribly wrong when the Prime Minister disembarked from his plane, and Wike had a long conversation with him,” the source revealed.
“It was one of the most embarrassing moments I have ever seen.”
“The embarrassment did not end there. The operative further explained that the situation grew more uncomfortable when Indian security personnel, recognizing Wike’s state, took action to prevent him from accompanying Modi to his hotel suite.
“Our Indian colleagues were professional but firm in stopping him from following the Prime Minister. It was a difficult moment for us,” the source continued.
But reacting to the claims, Wike in a statement entitled “Wike and Indian Prime Minister’s Visit”, said that “Jackson Ude, the liar, was on his podium of lies again!”
Giving his account of what transpired, Wike, in the statement released on X by his Senior Special assistant Public Communication & New Media., Lere Olayinka, said; “This afternoon, a US based self-appointed journalist tweeted on his X handle insinuating that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, was barred from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
“He claimed in his usual lying manner that Wike was drunk when he received the visiting Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday.
“Ordinarily, our approach to character like Jackson Ude, being aware of his stock-in-trade, is to ignore him and allow him the freedom to advertise his usual idiocy. However, knowing that the said Jackson Ude, also operates as a sponsored liar against people, for which he earns a living, it behoves on us to respond.
“First, the FCT Minister, received the Prime Minister of India, Narenda Modi, as directed by the President.
“Straight from the Airport, the FCT Minister led Prime Minister Narenda Modi to his hotel on Saturday night.
“On Sunday morning, Wike was at the hotel to perform his duty of leading the visiting Prime Minister to the Presidential Villa.
“The two attached photographs should be enough to deflate Jackson Ude’s balloon of lies.
“Interestingly, when Jackson Ude was reminded of the above, he quickly spin another lie, by asking why the Indian Security Operatives stopped the Minister from following the Prime Minister to his Hotel Suite after the incident at the airport.
“Fact is, the FCT Minister led the Prime Minister to his hotel, from the Airport and it was from the hotel that he (Wike) led the Prime Minister to the Presidential Villa on Sunday morning, where his duty ended.
“Up till now, Jackson Ude is still spinning lies to defend his initial lies. But for us who know his antecedents, we will not dignify him henceforth.
“After all, this same Jackson Ude, said in many tweets that the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, had fled Nigeria, through Nigeria Republic. He even accused the Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle of helping Yahaya Bello to escape to Niger Republic.
“However, the same Yahaya Bello that Jackson Ude said had fled Nigeria showed up at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on September 18, 2024.
“How the same man Jackson Ude claimed ‘Matawalle mobilized eight military personnel to escort to Niger Republic via Kebbi State, through the border town of lllela, in two dark tinted Hilux pickups and a Land Cruiser’ was at the EFCC office on September 18, he (Ude) has not explained.
“Rather, he has jumped to peddling other lies against high profile Nigerians, the latest being the FCT Minister.
“As usual, now that we have released pictures of the FCT Minister in his hotel with the Indian Prime Minister on Saturday and on Sunday morning at the Presidential Villa, Jackson Ude, will try to spin more lies to defend his initial lies. But like I have said, we won’t be dignify him again.
