Protest: Wike meets Tinubu, says FG ready for dialogue

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was observed at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday afternoon, as rallies throughout the country got underway.

The former governor of Rivers State was escorted into the President's Office after our correspondent saw him get out of a black Toyota Prado SUV.

As of the time this report was filed, the subject of their conversation was unknown, but it was assumed to have something to do with the hunger protests, which started on Thursday and have the FCT as their hub.

Security personnel used tear gas to scatter protestors as large groups flocked the central business area and surrounding neighbourhoods in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FCT minister, meanwhile, declared that the Federal Government was amenable to communication with the protesters.
This was said by Wike on Thursday in Abuja when he gave the four recently crowned Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba control over the Office's staff.

He applauded demonstrators who refrained from using violence and asked them to keep up the good work, stressing that it was preferable to communicate and work out problems with the government.

"I want you to keep working towards peace because the person who brings about peace will ultimately reap its benefits.

"I want to thank you and tell you that we are still willing to speak with our workers, have a conversation with them, and work out any kinks.

“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.”

Speaking to the coronated chiefs, the minister said traditional rulers had a lot of roles to play, adding that they were the closest to the grassroots and interface more with the people.

He said: “You are the one who knows what the people feel at home; you are the one who will tell us whether the government is making any impact or not.

“You will convey to your subjects what the government is doing and what the government is about to do; you are the one to sell government policies and programmes to your people.

“If you convey a wrong message, that is what the people will accept. If you convey the right message, that is what the people will accept. So, you play a very pivotal role,” he said.