#ICYMI: “My first son is a lawyer. He said, ‘No, I’m not going to practise. I want to be a farmer.” — FCT Minister, Nysome Wike Discloses, Defends Taking Sons on Official Trips

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has addressed criticisms trailing viral photos showing his sons accompanying him on both local and international engagements, insisting he has every right to travel with them.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Wike clarified that his sons who are master’s degree holders deserve exposure to the workings of government and global affairs.

“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,” Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor explained that his intention was to help his children understand how the world and governance operate, noting that such experiences are part of their personal development.

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

When asked if he was grooming his children to follow in his political footsteps, Wike dismissed the notion, revealing instead their personal ambitions.

“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,’” Wike stated. “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.”

He added that his second son, who earned a master’s degree in Economics from King’s College, has chosen to venture into real estate.

Wike expressed pride in his sons, praising their discipline and responsible lifestyle.

“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 said.

The FCT Minister has recently been seen with his sons at several official functions, including the commissioning of projects in Abuja.

However, their appearance at a recent summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, drew public criticism from some Nigerians, a controversy Wike now appears to have firmly addressed.