Atiku’s aide challenges Wike to publish invoices for media chats
Paulo Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has called on Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, to reveal the public expenditure associated with his media engagements.
Ibe’s request was made via a post on X on Tuesday, following Wike’s latest media session, which was broadcast live by several television and radio outlets.
He questioned the costs incurred for the broadcasts and urged Wike to disclose invoices detailing payments made to the participating stations, as well as the sources of funding and relevant budget lines.
Eight media outlets are reported to have aired the session, including Arise Television, Channels Television, TVC, News Central, AIT, JDK, Aso TV and Radio, and ADBN.
Ibe estimated that the cost of airtime ranges between ₦10 million and ₦20 million per station per hour, suggesting that a two-hour broadcast across eight networks could amount to between ₦160 million and ₦320 million. He further projected that conducting such sessions monthly over a year could total between ₦1.92 billion and ₦3.84 billion.
“Residents of the Federal Capital Territory have a right to know how funds are allocated for these broadcasts, especially when they focus on Wike’s political disagreements with figures like Atiku, Amaechi, Obi, ADC, and NDC,” Ibe stated.
While Ibe acknowledged that Wike has the right to elucidate his role as minister, he emphasized that public resources should primarily serve the interests of the territory’s residents.
“There is nothing wrong with a minister explaining his stewardship. However, public funds must serve public purposes, not personal political disputes,” he added.
Ibe urged Wike to publish the financial details related to the broadcasts, including the names of the paid stations, amounts, funding sources, and corresponding budget lines.
“Minister Wike, publish the invoices. Identify the stations paid, the amounts, the funding sources, and the relevant budget lines,” Ibe stated.
He argued that the minister’s media engagements should concentrate on issues relevant to FCT residents, such as infrastructure, water supply, education, healthcare, sanitation, and security.
“As Atiku and Amaechi are not infrastructure projects, ADC and NDC are not departments within the FCT Administration,” Ibe concluded.
Ibe reiterated that public funds should not be utilized for what he characterized as personal political publicity. “The FCT treasury is not Wike’s personal broadcasting account. Holding public office should not allow the conversion of public funds into private political promotion,” he remarked.
