- Says “You Only Want to Rescue Your Stomach, Not Nigerians”
By Abiola Olawale
In a fiery outburst, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has again launched an angry attack on opposition coalition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; former President of the Senate, who is the interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark; and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
This is as Wike, in his characteristic, unethical and disrespectful manner dismissed their newly formed coalition movement, accusing its leaders of prioritizing personal gain over the welfare of Nigerians.
Wike, who stated this at a Thanksgiving service for the completion of projects by the FCT administration on Sunday, said that Nigerians were unhappy with those who failed to perform while in office.
He said: “How can Nigerians not be angry with you? In 1999, you were at this party. In 2006. In 2014, you moved to another party. In 2019, you came back to another party. Now, in 2025, you have moved to another party? To rescue whom? You want to rescue your stomach; it’s not Nigerians you want to rescue.
“Some of you have sympathy for somebody you don’t know. You say Peter Obi will be President. President where? For eight years, he was governor; he never conducted local government elections. That is what you describe as democracy. Only you were the governor and chairman of the local government.
“Ask yourself a question. Just ask yourself. I was a Senate President for eight years, for example, and I cannot provide a road to my local government, Otukpo, and I will fly a helicopter to Otukpo — eight years!. It is now, you say you want to rescue Nigeria. Which Nigeria do you want to rescue?
“Somebody was speaker for eight years, governor, eight years, minister, eight years, he didn’t know that Nigerians were angry. It’s just these two years he left office, you’re telling Nigerians that Nigerians are angry.
“Why won’t they be angry. Why won’t they be angry when, in eight years as Minister of Transportation, you borrowed so much money from China, making us highly indebted? You have borrowed the future of Nigerians. You said Nigerians are angry; they are angry with you.
“Here, you were the Attorney General of the Federation for eight years. Every time we are paying for judgment debt. Nigeria is every time in the news about corruption, corruption, corruption, corruption.
“And these are the same people who want to rescue Nigeria. You were the Minister for Interior, yet to get an international passport, you will spend weeks, months, and years before you get your international passport. But look at a young boy, see what he has done? Within hours, you get your international passport.”
The New Diplomat reports that this comes after the opposition coalition adopted the African Democratic Congress as its political party, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Following the adoption, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC stepped down for General David Mark, who was appointed as the interim National Chairman, and former Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who was appointed as the interim National Secretary, respectively.
Within a short time, the ADC has resonated with many Nigerians who feel dissatisfied with the current state of Nigeria’s economic challenges, rising inflation, worsening insecurity, and increasing debt burden.
Recall that at the weekend, Rauf Aregbesola caused a terrific political mammoth crowd of followers in Lagos State as he rode in a motorcade to his residence in Lagos. In Apapa, a traditional ruler was said to have suspended three palace high chiefs who joined in the ADC massive crowd to welcome Aregbesola.
