Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will not be swayed by emotional appeals in the discharge of his duties, responding to a public plea by Abuja-based pastor Sarah Omakwu over the future of the Jabi Lake recreation area.
Omakwu, the Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, had earlier appealed to the minister in a viral video, where she knelt on the pulpit and urged him not to allocate the Jabi Lake for private development.
“I cannot fight the minister… but I go on my knees as a mother in this land that Jabi Lake Recreation Centre should not be given to anybody,” she said.
Responding during a press briefing in Abuja, Wike stressed that governance decisions cannot be based on emotions.
He questioned claims of ownership over the lake, insisting that the area had previously been allocated to a company for development but was instead turned into what he described as “shanties.”
The minister added that the condition of the area raised security concerns and diminished its potential as a proper recreational and tourism site, noting that such developments could deter visitors, including those lodging in nearby hotels.
Wike maintained that while not everyone would be satisfied with government decisions, his focus remains on what he believes serves the broader public interest.
