As protests kicked off nationwide on Thursday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was spotted at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday afternoon.

It was observed that the former Rivers State governor alighting from a black Toyota Prado Sports Utility Vehicle and was ushered into the President’s Office.

Though the topic of their discussion remained unknown as of the time of filing this report, it was believed to be connected to the hunger protests, which began on Thursday, with the FCT as an epicentre.

The FCT saw massive demonstrations from crowds who thronged the central business district and suburbs as security officials fired tear gas to disperse protesters.

Meanwhile, the FCT minister said the Federal Government was open to having a dialogue with the protesters.

Wike stated this while handing over the Staff of the Office to four newly coronated Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba, in Abuja on Thursday.

He commended protesters who refused to be violent and urged them to continue to remain peaceful, noting that it was better to have a dialogue and iron out issues with the government.

“I want you to continue with that peace process, because he who makes peace will, at the end of the day, enjoy the dividends of peace.

“I want to commend you and urge you to still talk to our people, that we are still ready to talk to them, have a dialogue with them and iron out the grey areas.

“We’ll also brief them on certain things they do not know so that they will be well informed to make informed decisions,” the minister said.

Describing Abuja as the nation’s “centre of unity,” Wike said, “Abuja is for everybody; if we lose Abuja, we have lost Nigeria. That is why we have always said, let us work together. There is nothing we can’t achieve under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“Give him time, and a lot of things will change.”

Speaking to the coronated chiefs, the minister said traditional rulers had a lot of roles to play, adding that they were the closest to the grassroots and interface more with the people.

He said: “You are the one who knows what the people feel at home; you are the one who will tell us whether the government is making any impact or not.

“You will convey to your subjects what the government is doing and what the government is about to do; you are the one to sell government policies and programmes to your people.

“If you convey a wrong message, that is what the people will accept. If you convey the right message, that is what the people will accept. So, you play a very pivotal role,” he said.

PUNCH