Atiku’s aide challenges Wike to disclose funding for media broadcasts

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's media adviser, Paul Ibe, has challenged Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to disclose the costs and funding sources of live broadcasts of Wike's media engagements. Ibe made this demand after a media discussion featuring Wike, which was broadcast on several television and radio stations.

Ibe estimated that airing the program could cost between N10 million and N20 million per station per hour, with eight stations broadcasting for two hours potentially costing between N160 million and N320 million per session. He further estimated that conducting 12 sessions monthly could incur expenditures ranging from N1.92 billion to N3.84 billion. However, these figures were provided by Ibe and have not been independently verified.

Ibe argued that Wike's media engagements should prioritize infrastructure development and public services in the FCT rather than focusing on political disagreements with other political figures and groups. He stated that FCT residents deserve to know the costs of these broadcasts and the airtime dedicated to FCT development instead of Wike's political disagreements with Atiku, Amaechi, Obi, ADC, and NDC.

Ibe also urged the minister to publish the invoices and provide details about the stations involved, the amounts paid, the funding sources, and the relevant budgetary provisions. He maintained that the FCT treasury should not be considered a personal political broadcasting account for the minister and that public office should not be used to convert public funds into private political publicity.