“ADC coalition of ‘failed’ politicians” – Wike
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has branded the group of opposition politicians who recently took control of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition of “failed and expired politicians” with nothing new to offer Nigerians.
Speaking in Abuja, Wike rubbished claims by the opposition coalition that they could rescue Nigeria, questioning both their credibility and track records.
Wike took a swipe at Senator David Mark, the newly appointed interim national chairman of ADC, recalling that despite spending eight years as Senate President, Mark could not deliver meaningful development in his hometown, Otukpo, Benue State.
“I heard David Mark saying they want to rescue Nigeria and that Nigerians are not happy,” Wike said. “But he was Senate President for eight years — where is the evidence of his leadership? Not a single project in Otukpo. He had to fly helicopters to his own village, yet Nigerians were supposedly happy then?”
The FCT minister also slammed former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of plunging Nigeria deeper into debt through excessive Chinese loans during his time in office.
“Amaechi was minister. He took Chinese loans and made Nigeria so indebted to China. So, Nigerians were happy then?” he asked sarcastically.
Wike questioned whether Nigerians were genuinely better off during the tenure of those now parading themselves as agents of change.
“When you were in power, Nigerians were happy, but the moment you are no longer in power, Nigerians are no longer happy?” he queried.
The FCT minister did not spare former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, over the controversial Nigeria Air project, nor former Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, who he accused of failing to find real solutions to Nigeria’s insecurity.
“I saw Sirika. What happened to Air Nigeria? Nigerians were happy then?
When they went to APC in 2013 and took over power, Nigerians were happy, but no longer happy today?” Wike stated.
Wike further took aim at former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, questioning what tangible achievements he made as both Speaker of the House of Representatives and as a state governor to deserve public trust.
“Tambuwal was Speaker for four years. What did he do to make Nigerians not be angry? He was governor for eight years. What did he do? What kind of politics are we playing?” Wike asked.
He also accused former Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, of joining ADC only after falling out with his political godfather, former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The FCT minister insisted that only the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) provided it resolves its internal disputes has the structure and credibility to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Wike concluded by warning Nigerians to be wary of politicians who have “rebranded themselves” after contributing to the nation’s challenges, stating that “expired politicians” cannot offer real solutions to Nigeria’s problems.
