Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Monday night flew into a rage when he was questioned about how proper it was to have taken his two sons with him during his recent visit to Dubai, the United Arabs Emirate (UAE).
Wike, who was guest on Channels Television programme, Politics Today monitored by Newsmata.com.ng (NM) threw tantrums as he brazenly justified his action.
NM reports that a viral video on social media had captured Wike’s sons, Jordan and Joaquin as part of a delegation to the Asia Pacific City Summit in Dubai, attracting outrage from Netizens who perceive his action as an abuse of privilege.
But Wike responded brashly and haughtily, bragging about his children’s educational qualifications. Insisting that he has every right to travel with anyone he likes, he sneered that he would not travel with his enemy’s children.
Below is the encounter between Wike and the anchor, Seun Okinbaloye:
You travelled to the UAE, and you took your sons, is that right?
What law said that my sons shouldn’t travel with me?
Should you have carried your sons along with the state’s money for official duties?
Let the FCT say where they paid one Naira.
But should your children be involved in official trips, going with you to conferences, attending our official engagements?
Come on. Master’s degree holders? (Angry and raising his voice) I should not expose them?
On official matters?
Which official matters? Did they sign any document?
Was it a personal trip?
No, it doesn’t need to be a personal trip. What’s wrong? I can travel with anybody from the federal capital. I can travel with anybody in Nigeria; I have that right.
Why are you going around with your children?
Oh, come on, they have to know how Nigeria is, they have to learn about government.
They have to know that the society
Are you teaching them to be politicians?
No, that is not correct. Can I tell you? My first son is a lawyer. Is that not what you have chosen? He said no, I don’t want to practice. I was angry. He said no, I want to be a farmer. I said what do you mean by this? He said no, this is what I want to do.
It’s okay; what do you do? He has gone for training in Spain. He has gone for training in Lisbon. He’s leaving this week to China to learn. My second son finished from Kings College, master’s degree, Economics. And he did his master’s in management and technology change. I want to be in real estate; I said okay, you have to move somewhere to learn.
I am so happy that I have children who have given me comfort, who have not given me problems. Assuming they were somewhere smoking. You would have said oh, look at his children now, who are they?
That is why you are not happy that my children travelled with me to learn, to see how the world is and then you are saying that I travelled with my children. I will not travel with my enemy’s children.
