Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has recalled that he borrowed an official vehicle from former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, for his inauguration as Rivers State governor in 2015 because there were no government vehicles available.
Speaking during a media parley monitored by The News Chronicle, Wike said he inherited an almost empty Government House when he assumed office, claiming that there was “nothing, not even a pillowcase” left for his administration. His remarks echo similar statements he made while serving as Rivers governor.
According to him, the absence of basic facilities forced his administration to seek support from outside the state for his swearing-in ceremony.
“I borrowed a vehicle from Mimiko. When we moved into Government House, there was nothing there—not even a pillowcase,” Wike said.
The FCT minister, however, said his administration transformed the situation before leaving office in 2023 by providing official vehicles for key government officials.
He said he ensured that the incoming governor, deputy governor and the governor’s wife all had official vehicles, alongside other government functionaries, as part of efforts to guarantee a seamless transition.
Wike maintained that governance should focus on building institutions and leaving functional structures for successors rather than creating unnecessary challenges for incoming administrations.
The former Rivers governor has repeatedly cited the condition of the Government House after his inauguration as evidence of the difficulties his administration faced at the start of his tenure.
