Rumors spread like wildfire on Friday night, alleging that Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had collapsed during a high-profile meeting. According to these unverified reports, Wike was rushed to the State House Clinic, where doctors purportedly detected an alarming level of alcohol in his system. The claims escalated further, suggesting that the incident had triggered a partial stroke, leaving medical professionals deeply concerned about his ability to stand or recover fully.
Whispers of an emergency evacuation to an undisclosed hospital in France fueled the mystery, intensifying speculation about the minister’s health and political future. Social media became a hotbed of conjecture, with many questioning whether Wike’s condition was as dire as rumored.
However, these dramatic claims were swiftly countered. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to Wike on Public Communications and Social Media, dismissed the reports outright, branding them as “fake news.”
Adding further weight to the rebuttal, Wike made a public appearance on Sunday at the Presidential Banquet Hall in the State House, Abuja. He was not only present but actively engaged, leading the Eid-El-Fitr homage delegation to President Bola Tinubu. Standing before an audience of lawmakers, area council chairpersons, traditional rulers, and religious leaders, Wike delivered the opening remarks and personally presented a festive greeting card to the President—hardly the actions of a man on the brink of collapse.
To silence lingering doubts, Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, shared videos of Wike at the event, confirming his presence beyond dispute.
“FCT community led by the Honourable Minister of FCT, HM Nyesom Wike pay Eid-El-Fitr Homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House Banquet Hall,” Olusegun captioned one of the videos.
In another post, he reiterated, “Honourable Minister of the FCT, HM Nyesom Wike presents Sallah Felicitations card to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on behalf of residents of the Federal Capital Territory.”
With his public appearance and active participation in official engagements, Wike has effectively quashed the swirling speculations. For now, it seems, the minister remains very much in command, defying the rumors that sought to undermine his political standing.
