Wike Defends Taking Sons on Official Trips: ‘No Law Says They Can’t Travel with Me’

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his decision to allow his sons accompany him on both local and international trips, insisting that he has every right to do so.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Wike said his sons, who hold master’s degrees, deserved such exposure.

“What law says that my sons shouldn’t travel? Let the FCT say where they paid ₦1.

“What official matter? Did they sign any document? It doesn’t need to be a personal trip.

“What’s wrong? So, I can travel with anybody from the FCT. I can travel with anybody in Nigeria. I have that right.

“Oh, come on, they have to know how Nigeria is. They have to learn about government,” Wike said.

When asked if he was grooming his sons to become politicians, the minister dismissed the claim, explaining that they had chosen their own career paths.

“No, that’s not correct. My first son is a lawyer. He said, ‘No, I’m not going to practise. I want to be a farmer.’

“I said, ‘What do you mean by this? He said, ‘No, this is what I want to do.’ I said, ‘Okay’. What do you do?

“They’ve gone for training in Spain. They’ve gone for training in Lisbon.

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“My second son finished from King’s College — a master’s degree in Economics. He said he wants to be in real estate.”

The former Rivers State governor also expressed pride in his sons, describing them as well-behaved and responsible.

“I’m 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 these children now. Who are they? I will not travel with my enemy’s children,” he added.