By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister, Barr. Nysome Wike has renamed the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre, AICC, after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who officially commissioned the facility in Abuja.
Wike said that the import of renaming the renovated ICC after President Tinubu was from the firm support and the marching order by the president to renovate the centre despite distractions of litigation from a politician who was handling management of the centre.
Also, some halls inside the ICC were named after, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.
Wike stated that President Tinubu is the only leader who has supported renovation of the facility since it was built in 1991 under the military government.
He noted that the story started when Mr. President in December inaugurated the ECOWAS Parliament and discovered that it was an embarrassment to the country, as the president described it as a
“very dirty, disorganised, uninhabitable environment, and he gave a marching order that the place should be renovated.
“So many presidents have come, and nobody has said this is not what Nigeria needs. But because of your leadership, you gave a marching order, stating that this is not the quality to show that Nigeria is a giant of Africa.”
“Today, this Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre can march any other international Conference Centre,” the minister said as he expressed his joy.”
Concerned about how to sustain the Tinubu Conference Centre,Wike said that the new management will not bow to pressure of giving out the centre on the basis of friendly relationships.
“I want to let everybody know that whether you’re a brother or a sister or an and agency and you want to use this, you have to pay something. You have to pay. That’s the only way it can be sustained.”
“Nothing like, my brother, my sister is going to have a wedding. If you want to use a place like this, such a beautiful place, then you must drop something.”
“This was handled before by a politician, and he killed the place.
“Pressure came left, right, and center, and you said, go ahead and rehabilitate that place. We thank God for showing that leadership, Wike thanked the president.”
Furthermore, President Tinubu also named the FCT Minister a Transformational Leader, as he advised him to shun all forms of distractions.
President Tinubu said, “Don’t pay attention to the busybodies and bystanders. Whatever they say, continue to do your good work. You are a transformational leader, you have the foresight, the vision and the determination to succeed.”
Earlier, Senator Godswill Akpabio commended President Tinubu and Wike for the transformation of the ICC into a new look.
“Mr. President, the renovation, rehabilitation, and transformation that we are witnessing in the ICC is what we are bringing to this country, whether people like it or not. The Nigerian Parliament is very proud of you”, Akpabio emphasized.
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