Human rights lawyer and legal counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on President Bola Tinubu to Halt the monthly media chat of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing it as wasteful.
Ejimofor, a fiery lawyer said the media chat serves no purpose except to waste public funds and give the minister the opportunity to grandstand on national issues.
In a statement he signed and issued on Monday to journalists in Awka, Ejiofor expressed grave concern over the reported allocation of hundreds of millions of naira each month to finance the FCT Minister’s media appearances.
He regretted that this was coming at a time when the majority of Nigerians are grappling with record inflation, stagnant wages, and deepening poverty.
He said: “It is profoundly disheartening that in a country where millions of citizens struggle to survive on less than $2 a day, with limited access to basic healthcare, education, and shelter the government permits such an ostentatious display of vanity.
“These so-called media engagements serve little purpose beyond political grandstanding and exemplify a gross misplacement of national priorities.
“For instance, the cost of one month’s media spectacle could fund emergency relief and shelter for thousands displaced by recent floods in Niger State. It could refurbish dilapidated primary schools, equip rural health clinics, or sustain malnutrition programs in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps for several months,” Ejiofor argued.
He noted that while the optics of such spending are troubling, the underlying implications are even more damaging to public trust and national development.
“Nigerians are not asking for a televised circus. They are crying out for competent governance, responsible spending, and leadership that puts the people first.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must call the FCT Minister to order, end this wasteful media charade, and redirect national focus toward effective service delivery.
“This is not a time for flamboyance or fanfare. Nigeria is in a crisis that demands humility, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the common good. The Nigerian people deserve better. The time to act is now,” he said.
