Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has confirmed that he played a role in appointing his first cousin as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State.
In an interview with Channels TV on Friday, Wike addressed the controversy surrounding his cousin’s appointment. He explained that the criticism emerged because he did not support the candidate endorsed by Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Wike questioned: “Why should I not? I should influence my enemy’s appointment? So if I hear my cousin is to be appointed I should go and call imam, pastors, please don’t allow my cousin to be appointed. I should not say please help him to be appointed. What nonsense is that?”
He further explained that the criticism arose only after it was revealed that his cousin was the Edo REC.
Wike said: “When Obaseki brought Ighodalo to my house twice, asking that I support him, they didn’t know the REC was my cousin. It is just today they knew he is my cousin. He was posted there more than one year ago.”
Wike also asserted that the critics made a mistake in accusing his cousin.
“Let me tell you the mistake they made. For accusing my first cousin, they made a mistake. You know why? I think I am strong. They are meeting a rock. Even the INEC chairman cannot tell him what to do. He will tell you to go to hell with your job,” the FCT minister added.
