As nationwide protests began on Thursday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was observed at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in the afternoon.
Our correspondent witnessed the former Rivers State governor exiting a black Toyota Prado Sports Utility Vehicle and being led into the president’s office.
Though the nature of their talk was unknown at the time of reporting this story, it was thought to be related to the hunger protests that began on Thursday, with the FCT serving as the epicentre.
Crowds gathered in the FCT’s central business area and suburbs to protest, and security personnel shot tear gas to disperse them.
Meanwhile, the FCT minister stated that the federal government was willing to engage in talks with the demonstrators.
Wike made the remarks while turning over the office’s staff to four newly appointed Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba in Abuja on Thursday.
He praised protesters who refused to be violent and encouraged them to continue to be peaceful, stressing that it was preferable to have a dialogue and work out issues with the government.
“I want you to continue with that peace process, because he who makes peace will, at the end of the day, enjoy the dividends of peace.
“I want to commend you and urge you to still talk to our people, that we are still ready to talk to them, have a dialogue with them, and iron out the grey areas.
“We’ll also brief them on certain things they do not know so that they will be well informed to make informed decisions,” the minister said.
Describing Abuja as the nation’s “centre of unity,” Wike said, “Abuja is for everybody; if we lose Abuja, we have lost Nigeria. That is why we have always said, Let us work together. There is nothing we can’t achieve under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Give him time, and a lot of things will change.”
