The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vigorously defended the decision to rename the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, issuing a blunt rebuke to critics of the move.
Speaking on Friday during the inauguration of the Left-hand Service Carriageway of the Outer Southern Expressway from Apo-Wasa—a project reportedly valued at N39 billion—Wike addressed growing public backlash over the renaming, describing opponents as unpatriotic and lacking in taste.
“You know, there are people naturally, they don’t have good taste. They don’t have good taste,” Wike said. “The only thing in that International Conference Center that was not changed is just the block. Everything in that International Conference Center, everything was changed. If you love this country, you cannot criticise.”
Wike also dismissed attempts by critics to downplay the significance of the renovation and the renaming. “It’s not about ‘I wear only one shoe’ or telling people lies. It’s a lie. It’s not about, ‘oh, I carry my bag.’ No,” he said.
Drawing parallels to other national landmarks named after prominent Nigerians, Wike argued that naming the facility after Tinubu was justified despite the president not being its original builder.
“Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport was not built by Nnamdi Azikiwe. Moshood Abiola Stadium was not built by Moshood Abiola,” he noted.
In a more controversial segment of his speech, the minister offered a scathing response to those opposing government policies and reforms, saying their disapproval was of no consequence to him.
“I don’t normally watch them. I don’t like to know people’s names who don’t have anything to offer,” he said. “If you want to die, I have a lot of land. I have land to give you where they will bury you. Africa’s population is too high. So if you want to die, you die.”
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the ICC, originally constructed in 1991 during a military regime, had officially been renamed after President Bola Tinubu.
During his remarks at the inauguration of the newly renovated facility, Wike attributed the overhaul of the long-neglected centre to Tinubu’s leadership and intervention.
“It is important for the public to know and understand why this is called Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre,” he said. “This conference centre was built in 1991 under the military government. Since that time, nothing has happened to it. Last year, July or August, you (Tinubu) came here to inaugurate the ECOWAS Parliament. It was an embarrassment for a country to still have this as an international conference centre. Then, you said, ‘how can we have this’? That shows leadership.”
