Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing attack on leaders of the newly formed opposition coalition, accusing them of pursuing personal interests under the guise of rescuing Nigeria. Speaking at a thanksgiving service in Abuja on Sunday to mark the completion of FCT projects, Wike dismissed the coalition’s credibility, saying many of its members had repeatedly switched parties without delivering meaningful results while in office. “You want to rescue your stomach, not Nigerians,” he said, citing their history of political defection and poor performance.

Wike singled out several opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, accusing them of hypocrisy and failed leadership. “You were Senate President for eight years, and you couldn’t fix a road in your local government. Someone else was Minister of Transportation for eight years and borrowed heavily from China — now they say Nigerians are angry. Yes, they are angry, but with you,” Wike stated. He also criticized Obi’s record as Anambra governor, claiming he undermined democracy by failing to conduct local government elections.

The minister also mocked former officials for presiding over dysfunctional systems, such as the backlog of passport issuance under the former Minister of Interior. He praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for recent reforms and urged Christians to remain patient and supportive of the government. “Forget about people who have lost their chances to put Nigeria right. They won’t come back,” he said. The opposition coalition, now rallying under the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 elections, includes Atiku, Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, and others — all of whom Wike portrayed as out of touch with the frustrations of ordinary Nigerians.