Wike dismisses support for Israel, clarifies meeting with envoy

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Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed insinuations that he expressed support for Israel against Palestine, saying that was not the import of his October 3 meeting with Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman.

The minister, who spoke at a meeting with leadership of the Abuja National Mosque Management Board, said he has no constitutional powers to determine Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with other countries.

He insisted that the authority lies absolutely with the President and Commander-in-Chief.

According to him, “I have heard from various social media platforms that we had a meeting; that we are doing this and that with Israel. I am here, acting on delegation of powers, on behalf of Mr. President. I cannot determine the relationship between a country and another country. So, it is difficult for anybody to say I am doing this, I am doing that.

“Any foreign body that wants to have anything to do with Nigeria, it is the Minister of Foreign Affairs that will write to me and state that these people want to see me; it is simple. And when they come, it is my position to say, ‘Look, we want to partner with you.’ Take for instance, you are going into agriculture and we want to partner. Then, we tell you where, exactly.”

The minister said the meeting was purely for agricultural partnership, in the interest of FCT farmers.

“In Abuja, here, most of them have cultural farms and we say, ‘Look, it is our desire to help anybody who wants to invest in Abuja, particularly, in agriculture, to employ our people, and to get more revenue.’ It has nothing to do with another country. It doesn’t work that way.

“When our people begin to think from different angles…and people may not understand that it is not correct. So, I would like to use this opportunity to say, ‘Look, we have to talk to our people. In fact, we must live harmoniously. We must live together to make sure development is promoted,” he said.

Freeman had visited the FCT minister, days before the attack on Israel by Hamas, and consequent ongoing air strikes by the Jewish nation.

Notwithstanding the gap between the visit and eruption of conflict between Hamas and Israel, some critics had accused Wike of offering Nigeria’s support to the latter.

Freeman had, during the visit, expressed his country’s willingness to work with Nigeria to generate employment opportunities, transform Abuja into a technology hub, and engage in agricultural partnerships.

In response, Wike conveyed Nigeria’s commitment to partnering with Israel in information technology, with a plan to establish a technology village in Abuja. He also highlighted the favourable climate in Abuja, suggesting a collaborative effort to create a technology-driven farm that could employ many youths.

Wike further sought Israel’s assistance in enhancing Nigeria’s national security.