Rumors about Nyesom Wike’s health took over Nigerian social media after posts claimed the Federal Capital Territory minister had suffered heart failure in the United Kingdom — www.naijnaira.com reports.
The story, first pushed out by Sahara Reporters, alleged that the former Rivers governor was receiving treatment for congestive heart failure at a UK hospital.
Despite the circulation of this claim, no other major news outlets in Nigeria have confirmed the story or provided fresh details.
Wike, who has served as FCT minister since May 2023, was last publicly seen on September 3 during the launch of a major road project in Abuja.
Since then, his absence has been noticed, with senior aides representing him at official functions, further intensifying speculation about his condition.
His chief of staff, Chidi Amadi, stood in for him during the distribution of subsidised fertilisers to farmers on September 4.
Again on September 11, Minister of State Mariya Mahmud Bunkure represented Wike at the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria conference in Abuja.
So far, his spokesperson Lere Olayinka has not addressed the claim, even though he is usually quick to counter reports involving his principal.
Wike remains a controversial political figure, a PDP member who supported APC’s Bola Tinubu in 2023 and secured a key cabinet role after the president’s victory.
With no confirmation from credible sources and silence from his camp, the viral “heart failure” report remains unverified.
Article updated 5 days ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
