Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the presence of his sons during his official local and overseas trips.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, Wike stated that his sons were not part of any government delegation and did not receive public funds.
“What law says my sons should not travel?” he asked. “Let them show where the FCT paid even ₦1 for my children. Did they sign any official document? What is the offence?”
Wike explained that his sons, who hold master’s degrees, are simply gaining exposure and learning about the world.
“So, I can travel with anybody, whether from the FCT or any part of Nigeria. I have that right,” he said. “They have to understand how Nigeria works. They have to learn about governance.”
When asked whether he was grooming them to become politicians, the Minister dismissed the speculation.
“My first son is a lawyer. He said he doesn’t want to practise; he wants to be a farmer. They’ve gone for training in Spain and Lisbon.
“My second son has a master’s degree in Economics from King’s College. He wants to be in real estate,” he said.
Wike expressed pride in his children, noting that they were responsible and well-behaved.
“I’m happy I have children who give me peace and not problems. If they were out there causing trouble, the same people criticizing now would be asking where I went wrong,” he added.
The Minister recently faced backlash after being seen with his sons at a summit in Dubai, UAE.
He has also been spotted with them at FCT project commissioning events.