Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has lashed out at the anti-Tinubu coalition which on Wednesday took over the structure of the African Democratic Congress, describing its members as a gang of failed and expired politicians who have nothing meaningful to offer Nigerians.
Speaking during a media chat monitored in Abuja, Wike went after the coalition leaders one by one, dismissing their credibility and questioning their track records.
Taking a swipe at former Senate President David Mark, who was unveiled as National Chairman of the coalition, Wike said: “I heard David Mark say they want to rescue Nigeria. That Nigerians are not happy. But the man was Senate President for 8 years, and Nigerians were happy? There was no single project in Otukpo. Not one. He was flying with a helicopter to Otukpo. Nigerians were not angry then, but they are angry now?”
Wike further criticised Mark for failing to secure electoral victories for the PDP in his own area, pointing out that even Mark’s daughter contested for the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress and won.
Turning to former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Wike said: “Amaechi was minister. He took Chinese loans and made Nigeria so indebted to China. So, Nigerians were happy then?”
He continued: “When you were in power, Nigerians were happy, but the moment you are no longer in power, Nigerians are no longer happy.”
He also aimed at former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, asking: “I saw Sirika. What happened to Air Nigeria? Nigerians were happy then?”
On the broader coalition, Wike added: “When they went to APC in 2013 and took over power, Nigerians were happy, but no longer happy today?”
He defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that many of the country’s challenges were inherited: “Was it under Tinubu’s government that banditry came? What is he doing? To solve the problems he met.”
Wike was also scathing about former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. “I read what Malami wrote. It was so shameful. He was AGF. What did he do? What was his contribution to resolving the security challenges?”
He questioned former Sokoto State Governor and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal’s contributions as well. “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?” he queried.
Wike did not spare former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi either, saying his only reason for moving to the ADC was because he had fallen out with his godfather, Senator Bukola Saraki.
Concluding his remarks, Wike stated that the only party still capable of mounting a serious challenge to President Tinubu is the PDP — but only if it puts its house in order.
