Wike denies corruption allegations in FCT contracts as classmate accuses him of lying about owning a Benz during university days
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike denies corruption allegations in FCT infrastructure contracts and insists he is a self-made man, but his former classmate says otherwise.
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One Allen Wogu, who claims to have studied alongside Wike at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), dismissed the Minister’s public assertion that he drove a Mercedes Benz as a student between 1986 and 1990.
Wogu’s rebuttal came via a strongly worded Facebook post in which he accused Wike of fabricating stories about his early wealth and background.
“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I wonder how someone who has classmates who, by God’s grace, are alive would come on national television and claim he was driving a Mercedes Benz car between 1986 and 1990 in the University of Port Harcourt, where he studied political science/education,” Wogu wrote.
“Jesus Christ, please have mercy. This guy wore sandals with buckles and never rode on a bicycle throughout our 4-year sojourn, and I have over 4000 witnesses. So this is how he has been lying? Too shocked here,” he added.
Wike made the controversial claim on Channels Television last week in an attempt to deflect allegations from former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who accused him of enriching himself through contract kickbacks.
Wike insisted that his wealth is traceable to his youthful days and not from his time in public office.
“I have a Rolls-Royce. So what? Nobody gave it to me. I bought it,” Wike declared on air. “People ask, ‘With what money?’ Let me tell you – I came from a comfortable background.”
Wike also claimed that his father was a general manager of several companies and provided him a privileged lifestyle.
“As a student, I was driving a Mercedes-Benz. So don’t let anyone tell you I suddenly became wealthy. I didn’t come from poverty,” he added.
However, Wogu and other critics have pushed back, saying Wike’s narrative doesn’t align with the facts.
This guy wore sandals with buckles and never rode on a bicycle throughout our 4-year sojourn.
According to them, Wike was far from wealthy in his youth and never displayed any evidence of affluence while on campus.
They argue that Wike’s father was not a corporate executive but rather a Pastor with limited means, and they allege that the Minister’s flamboyant lifestyle began only after he gained access to public funds.
One critic alleged that Wike’s father even rejected him at some point due to concerns over his conduct.
“He was not from any comfort. He was rejected at home. Nobody from his family had the kind of money needed to buy a Mercedes for a student,” said another anonymous respondent.
This latest round of controversy adds fuel to the ongoing public debate over Wike’s stewardship in both Rivers State and now the FCT.
Accusations of favouritism, excessive lifestyle, and alleged abuse of contract processes have trailed the Minister despite his efforts to position himself as a firm but fair administrator.
The backlash over his statement comes at a sensitive time, as Wike continues to navigate tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and fend off attacks from rivals within the political space.
His increasing visibility and influence in Abuja have also triggered scrutiny from opposition figures and former allies.
While Wike’s loyalists argue that his accomplishments in infrastructure and political strategy speak for themselves, critics like Wogu say the public must hold him to higher standards of honesty and transparency.
As it stands, Wike denies corruption allegations outright and maintains that he never received bribes or favours in exchange for awarding contracts in either Rivers State or the FCT. Yet the credibility of his personal narrative continues to be challenged.
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“This guy wore sandals with buckles and never rode on a bicycle throughout our 4-year sojourn,” Wogu claimed. “So this is how he has been lying?”
