Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stood firm against criticism over the decision to rename the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja after President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking at his monthly media briefing on July 3, Wike challenged detractors, asking who else would be more deserving of the honour. He noted that the venue is fully booked until 2027 and questioned why acknowledging a sitting leader should provoke controversy.
Addressing accusations of sycophancy, Wike pointed out that many public facilities across Nigeria already bear the names of prominent figures, citing the IBB International Golf Club as an example.
He argued that it is important to celebrate leaders while they are still alive rather than waiting until after their death to honour their contributions.
“Why all the noise about renaming the ICC after Tinubu? Should we name it after armed robbers?” Wike rhetorically asked, reinforcing his stance that recognizing living leaders who contribute to national development is both fitting and necessary.