“And what I don’t like is intimidation. If you have a problem, channel your problem to me and if I don’t solve it, then you can take another step.”
This was the word of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike today, May 9, while addressing protesting Apo Mechanic traders who barricaded the entrance to his office.
The traders also blocked entrance to the entire FCTA secretariat complex, disrupting the free flow of traffic along the Kapital Street and environs of the secretariat.
The Minister reminded the traders that the right thing they should have done was to follow proper procedure to seek redress for any perceived grievance.
He warned the protesters against resorting to such actions to resolve issues, adding that: “you can’t intimidate me.”
He said that it was wrong for the traders to barricade the entrance to his office and a major street in their attempt to draw attention to their complaints.
“It is wrong to barricade the road without informing me of anything. You never wrote to me that you wanted to see me and I refused to see you. And then what you did is to wake up in the morning to barricade the road, barricade the gate, and then you said you are supporting me. I don’t need that support.
“What you should do, tell your people to go, then write to me that you want to see me, then we sit down and talk.
“But I will not talk to you based on these things you are doing here. I’m not one of those that anybody will come and intimidate. You should know me very well.
“What I don’t like is for anybody to say go there and barricade the place. I don’t like that. I see this as being sponsored, people coming to tarnish the image of the government.
“We can sit and dialogue. If the government has made a promise that they will give you land, I will look at the papers and I will ask questions, why was this land not given if it was approved.”
