‘Mark failed Otukpo, Amaechi buried Nigeria in debts’ — Wike taunts ADC coalition leaders

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has launched a scathing attack on leaders of the coalition that assumed control of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

On Wednesday, members of the coalition formally unveiled the ADC as their platform for the 2027 general election.

David Mark, former senate president, was named interim national chairman, while Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun, was appointed interim national secretary.

Politicians at the event included Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the LP in 2023; Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto; Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation; Solomon Dalung, former minister of sports; and Odigie Oyegun, former national chairman of the APC.

Others are Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice; Dino Melaye; Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine; Eyinnanya Abaribe; Gabriel Suswan; Ireti Kingibe; Elisha Abbo; Uche Secondus; Tunde Ogbeha; Victor Umeh; Lauretta Onochie; Liyel Imoke; Bolaji Abdullahi, among others.

Speaking at a media parley on Thursday, Wike said many of those now positioning themselves as rescuers once held powerful offices but left no meaningful impact.

He said Mark has no justification to speak of national renewal, claiming that his tenure as senate president brought no visible development to his hometown.

“I heard David Mark say Nigerians are angry and that they want to rescue the country,” Wike said.

“But he was the senate president for eight years. Was there any project in Otukpo? Not one. He was flying there with helicopters. Were Nigerians not angry then?”

Wike said Mark had since lost political relevance, as even his daughter won an election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), not the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he once held sway.

He also took aim at Amaechi, accusing the former transportation minister of saddling Nigeria with Chinese debts.

“Amaechi took Chinese loans and buried Nigeria in debt. But they say Nigerians were happy then,” the FCT minister said.

“It’s unfortunate that they will use Nigerians to play politics up and down. When you are angry with me Nigerians were not happy, the only time Nigerians are happy is when you are in power, the moment you are no longer in power, Nigerians are angry.

“Was it under Tinubu’s government that banditry started? He’s trying to solve the problems they left behind.

“I saw Sirika. What happened to Air Nigeria? Nigerians were happy then? When they went to APC in 2013 and took over power, Nigerians were happy, but no longer happy today?

“I read what Malami wrote — it was shameful. What did he do to resolve the security challenges as AGF?”

He also questioned Aminu Tambuwal’s record, asking what the former speaker and Sokoto governor did to ease citizens’ frustration while in office.

“Tambuwal was speaker for four years and governor for eight. What exactly did he do to reduce the anger of Nigerians?” he asked.

Wike said Bolaji Abdullahi, former sports minister, joined the ADC because of a “political rift” with his mentor, Bukola Saraki.

He added that only the PDP, if truly united and restructured, can mount a serious challenge to the ruling APC in the next election.