The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has addressed backlash over his decision to rename the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing with journalists on Wednesday, July 3, Wike dismissed critics questioning the decision, stating that Tinubu was deserving of the honour due to his leadership and contributions to national development.
“That place is booked till 2027. Now you are saying, why did I name it after Bola Tinubu? Who should I name it after? Who is more qualified?” Wike asked pointedly.
He further questioned the logic behind the outrage, rhetorically asking: “Why all this noise about renaming the ICC after Tinubu? Should we rename it after armed robbers?”
Wike defended the practice of naming public infrastructure after living leaders, highlighting that it should not always take a person’s death before they are recognised.
“We have IBB International Golf Club. Why didn’t we leave it as International Golf Club? International Conference Centre is not a name tied to anybody,” he said.
Describing the renaming as an act of appreciation rather than sycophancy, Wike emphasized that President Tinubu had shown leadership and offered support that contributed to recent achievements in the FCT.
“It’s only when the person dies that we want to remember them. But while alive and pouring their energy into making the country better, we ignore them. I will not do that,” he stated.
