The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused leaders of the newly formed opposition alliance of prioritising their personal interests over the well-being of Nigerians.
Wike made this known on Sunday during a thanksgiving service organised to celebrate completed development projects under the FCT Administration.
In his speech, the minister strongly criticised key members of the opposition coalition—many of whom are former top government officials—for lacking integrity and showing little commitment to national progress.
According to Wike, most of the coalition’s leaders have been inconsistent in their political affiliations over the years, moving from one party to another without any real ideological direction.
“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,” the minister said.
He also questioned the political record of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, noting that the former Anambra State governor failed to hold local government elections during his time in office.
“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,” Wike said.
Further, Wike challenged the achievements of other senior figures in the coalition, asking what they did for their communities while in power.
“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 asked.
He noted that many of them had held key government positions for years without addressing the real problems affecting ordinary citizens.
“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,” Wike said.
He also blamed other opposition figures for worsening Nigeria’s reputation globally and failing in critical areas of governance.
“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,” he said.
Wike then urged Christians to continue supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stressing the need for patience and prayer rather than trusting those who he believes had failed before.
“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,” the minister said.
He concluded by saying the current opposition leaders have lost relevance and would not regain power.
In his words, “They cannot stay out of power. Unfortunately, they have stayed out; they won’t come back.”
The opposition coalition, which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress as its platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, includes notable figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rauf Aregbesola, Nasir El-Rufai, and David Mark.
