Abuja: The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says he has no regrets about naming the Abuja International Conference Centre after President Bola Tinubu.
Wike said this in Abuja on Friday, during the inauguration of the completed 15-kilometre left-hand service carriageway of OSEX Stage II from Ring Road I to Wassa Junction.
Criticism has followed the rehabilitated Abuja International Conference Centre’s after being named after the incumbent President Tinubu shortly after it reopened on Tuesday.
Others described expending N39 billion to renovate the edifice as a misplaced priority. Reacting, Wike wondered why some people criticised naming the conference centre after Tinubu.
According to him, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was not built by Azikiwe and Moshood Abiola National Stadium was not built by Abiola. He added that those criticising the centre’s rehabilitation do not have good taste.
“I have done it, and I have no regret at all,” Wike said.
He said that the only thing that was not changed in the centre was the structure, saying, “Everything in that centre was changed.”
He expressed dismay that some people enjoyed indulging in baseless criticism instead of commending Tinubu for doing very well.
Wike said those who described the N39 billion spent on renovating the centre as a misplaced priority had lost track of time and the changing exchange rate of the Naira to the Dollar.
“They said the centre was built with N240 million, but which year? 1991. What was the exchange rate in 1991 compared with today? Look at it, 1991, and we are now in 2025. Nobody who loves this country will criticise the rehabilitation of the international conference centre,” he said.
The minister said Nigeria was seen as the giant of Africa and that people must see what makes the country so great. “We deserve the best for the country, and Mr. President has given us the best,” he said.