The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports alleging he travelled to London for medical treatment related to congestive heart failure.
Wike clarified that he had only taken time off to rest, noting that he had not gone on holiday since his appointment.
His reaction followed online reports claiming he was in London last week to receive medical attention after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
The report said that the minister had declined doctors’ recommendations for bypass surgery, expressing concerns about being away from his ministerial duties for an extended period and the possibility of being replaced in his absence.
Politically motivated
However, speaking during the flag-off of the construction of Arterial Road N1 from Wuye District to Ring Road II on Thursday, the minister denied the claims, stating that the reports were politically motivated.
“Each time I travel, I go with files; I travel with C-of-Os to make sure that work is not being delayed. But this time around, I said, whatever it is, I must travel, and I must travel without any file, so if the whole place will crumble, let it crumble. Because one has to be alive before one can satisfy other people.
“You know this job we are doing, people are waiting for you. The day you drop, they will announce another person. So, you must make sure while you are working, you also take time out and relax, so I said, let me travel.
“Before I knew it, I heard that they said they were sick, and I heard they said they had a heart attack. God will continue to help them have a heart attack. It is my prayer that I will sign their condolences. It is my prayer that very soon, I will write a letter, we are sorry, we lost him. But take heart, it is God that gives, it’s God that has taken.
You know, this country we are in, we play politics with everything. How can somebody sit down and write all sorts of things? Where the person saw me, I don’t know.
He challenged the person peddling the rumour to state the specific hospital where he saw him.