Be Patient With Tinubu; Coalition Leaders Want To Rescue Their Stomach, Not Nigerians– Wike Tells Church
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has blasted leaders of the opposition coalition, accusing them of pursuing personal gain rather than genuinely seeking to rescue Nigerians from hardship
Wike made the remarks during a thanksgiving service on Sunday, held to commemorate the completion of projects by the FCT administration. He said those forming coalitions ahead of 2027 are the same politicians who failed to deliver when they held positions of power.
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.”
Wike also took a jab at Labour Party’s Peter Obi, questioning his record as governor of Anambra State.
“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 governments.”
Continuing his scathing critique, Wike challenged past leaders to account for their stewardship, accusing them of neglecting their constituencies while in office.
“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?”
He accused former ministers and governors in the coalition of hypocrisy, saying they only began acknowledging Nigerians’ anger after leaving office.
“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 have get your international passport.”
Calling for calm and unity, Wike urged Christians to be patient with President Tinubu’s administration and ignore what he described as the noise from political has-beens.
“All I appeal to the church, just be patient and continue to pray for Mr. President, for the administration. Forget about people who have lost their chances to put Nigeria right. They won’t have the chance again.
“They cannot stay out of power. Unfortunately, they have stayed out; they won’t come back.”
The opposition coalition, which has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political vehicle for 2027, includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, and ex-Senate President David Mark.
