The Vicar of St. James Anglican Church in Asokoro, Abuja, Reverend Ben Idume, has stirred reactions on social media following comments he made during a thanksgiving service held by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

 

Idume, while speaking at the event—which was organized to mark the completion of several projects initiated by Wike since he assumed office—praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a “visionary” decision in appointing the former Rivers State governor as FCT Minister.

 

In his words, the cleric said:

 

“I will not fail to thank President Tinubu who appointed this man to be minister because the President, himself, is a visionary president. He can see vision somehow. That was why he saw that this man (Wike) can do something. Tinubu can see vision, whether he closes his eyes or opens them.”

 

 

 

He also addressed criticism surrounding Wike’s appointment, saying:

 

“When he became a minister, some people said over their dead bodies, he would not be a minister. ‘How can a Christian be a minister? Have you ever heard it once? How can a southerner be a minister? Have you ever heard it? It can never be done.’”

 

 

 

The vicar’s remarks quickly gained traction online, with mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some supported his sentiments, others criticized him for making political statements from the pulpit and for what they perceived as sycophancy.