Arise TV broadcast journalist and former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati has berated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Recall, the former Rivers governor held a thanksgiving at St. James Anglican Church in Asokoro, Abuja on Sunday, July 6 to mark the completion of some projects in Abuja.
Abati reacted by condemning the thanksgiving event, stating that it was more a display of self-praise than a genuine expression of gratitude.
The former presidential spokesperson argued that the occasion had transformed into a personal celebration disguised as a public event.
He questioned why a government official would use a religious setting to promote achievements associated with his public office.
“Let’s deal with the idea of going to have a Thanksgiving service because you have a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory who has done some projects, who has spent about 11 days launching projects, and the President attended it, and then he goes to church.
“And he goes to church to go and masturbate, to engage in a process of self-adulation. I find that very childish, and that’s why we question it.
“Now, let’s make the point. This Constitution that we’re talking about says in Section 10 that there shall be no state religion in any part.
“So, Wike going to church to go and have a song and a dance is a violation of that part of the Constitution. He’s not going there in his own capacity; he is taking the whole machinery of the FCT to go and celebrate project. Some of these churches, like St. James, should call out the priest. They should be able to say that certain things are not acceptable, no matter the amount of money a government official is bringing in a public capacity.
“Maybe they should give this priest also the Constitution of Nigeria to run, to understand that, you know, there is what is right, there is what is not right”, Abati said.