-
Trolls Mark, Aregbesola, Amaechi, Others
- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has trolled the leaders of new African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition party, charging them against using Nigerians to play politics.
Recall that the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG) had yesterday adopted the ADC as its party with former Senate President, David Mark, and ex-Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the interim National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
The event held in Abuja also had in attendance prominent opposition leaders which include former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and the 2023 Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, amongst others.
In his address after being official inaugurated as the new National Chairman, David Mark disclosed that the coalition was formed to rescue Nigerians from the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, stressing that Nigerians are angry.
Reacting to the development during his monthly media parley on Thursday, Wike profiled each of the opposition leaders, highlighting their respective failures during their time in office which he satirically claimed to have never upset Nigerians.
Starting with David Mark, the FCT Minister accused him of establishing no project at his constituency during his eight years in office.
He also trolled the Amaechi over the Chinese loan he took which left Nigeria indebted during his time as Transportation Minister.
“David Mark was Senate President for how many times? Eight years! Nigerians were happy. Nigerians were happy when he Senate. And there is was no single project in Otukpo. He was flying helicopter to go to Otukpo then. Nigerians were not angry then. Nigerians are only angry now. Is it not correct?
“When Rotimi Amaechi was Minister for eight years, Nigerians were not angry. When Nigeria became indebted with Chinese loan, Nigerians were happy. It is now Nigerians are angry.
“It is unfortunate that we use Nigerians and play politics up and down. When you are angry with me, Nigeria are not happy.
“The only time you are happy with me is when you have power. The moment you are no longer in power, Nigerians are angry.
“You quarrel with your boss, Nigerians are angry, you did anything for Tinubu, Nigerians are angry.
“They are saying Nigerians are angry. That they want to rescue Nigeria. So I am saying this simple question, what happened to the El-Nigeria? Nigerians were happy then? When Amaechi was minister when we took heavy loan from China, things were well with Nigeria. Nigerians were not angry.
“When they went to APC in 2015 and too over the realms of power till 2023, Nigerians are happy? Was it under Tinubu’s government that banditry came? What is he doing? To solving the problems he met.” Wike said.
The FCT Minister further took a swipe at former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, whose successor was rejected by voters in the state.
He also trolled Aregbesola, stressed that he chose to join the band rather than resolving his issues with him.
“I read what former Attorney General Malami said, it is so embarassing. He was an Attorney General. He knows what is happening in this country. Why are people thinking that Nigeirans have become so foolish that they use Nigerians everytime that Nigerians are angry.
“Tambuwal was Speaker for four years. What did you do to make Nigeria not to be angry. You were a governor in Sokoto state.
“Sokoto people were happy and they refused to elect the person you brought. What kind of politics are we playing?
“When he quarrel with me? (Aregbesola), instead of you to resolve your problem with me, he said Nigerians are angry. When we were good with him, he never knew Nigerians were angry.” He said.
Wike expressed willingness to listen to such claims from people who have not been in power before but not from those who have failed while on power leaving the current in its current predicament.
While admitting to the challenges facing Nigeria, the FCT Minister claimed that the situation would have been worse if President Bola Tinubu had not taken certain decisions such as the fuel subsidy removal had seen increments in Federal allocation to state governments.
He however challenged the opposition leaders to show evidences of what they did during their time in governance as he warned the against using Nigerians to conceal their failure.
“When you want to go to power, tell us. If there are people who have not been in power in this country and who are coming with such an idea, I can listen to them. But not people who were the ones at the helms of affairs of this country for how many years? If this President has not taken certain decisions he has taken which can be very challenging, we would have known where we would have been by now.
“A President came and say this is a scam; took that bold step, we will not allow that. States are getting more money. Nigerians are angry that states are getting more money. Nigerians are angry that we are providing infrastructures in Abuja. I cannot say that there are no challenges.
“There are challenges. But for Christ sake, stop using Nigerians. You couldn’t have been an Head of affairs. I challenge anybody today. When you were there, what contribution did you make. History will hold you responsible.” He added.