Wike claps back at Ozekhome, Shehu Sani, accuses duo of defending election riggers, failing as Senator

Wike noted, “First of all we’re talking about 25 years of democracy. I know we have challenges but I expected the lecturer (Ozekhome) to say, ‘yes, we’ve made some progress.”

By Kehinde Okeowo

The Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has come down hard on senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, and former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani.

Wike tackled both men during the Nigeria Annual Lecture and Gold Prize Award, 2024, which was held in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy recently.

The Minister, Ozekhome and Sani were under the same roof as dignitaries at the event. 

However, while Ozekhome, who was the guest lecturer of the event was speaking, he seemingly left out areas the country has made some progress in the last 25 years.

His counterpart, Shehu Sani, while commenting also told President Bola Tinubu to wake up and solve the problem of hunger in Nigeria.

Responding, Wike called out the two activists by demanding to know what Sani achieved as a Senator for many years and asked Ozekhome if he had ever rejected briefs.

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He went on to put it to the senior lawyer  that he has not ever rejected any job even if it was to defend those who rigged elections in court.

Wike said: “So I said that I’ll put this to you and to tell my brother friend, for the main fact that you people were activists does not mean that you’ll do well, no.

“Activists have always failed. We’ve seen activists that were given appointments and yet they failed. When you were in the Senate, how did you perform? What was our performance as Senator?

“And you’re saying something about rigging elections and … as an activist, how many times have you rejected briefs? Those who have rigged elections, you have even defended them.

“So, it is about everytime we come here and postulate, postulate and postulate.”

The former Rivers State governor added, “First of all we’re talking about 25 years of democracy. I know we have challenges but I expected the lecturer to say, ‘yes, we’ve made some progress.’

“In all this lecture, not one progress was made . [It was about] criticism after criticism. Are you telling me that in 25 years, not one progress was made .

“Yes, you can say we’ve made this progress but still the need for us to move forward. Just like Shehu Sani said how they were detained, he didn’t say that under this democracy no Nigerian has found himself under this aspect, that’s progress.

“You’ve said here about infrastructure in FCT, who’s FCT minister working under? Mr President. That means he has the capacity to know those who can help him move the country.”