The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has responded to comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during a media chat, describing his remarks as a “panicked outburst” driven by fear of the rising momentum behind the coalition of opposition political parties.
A statement issued on Thursday by the Spokesman of the Coalition Movement, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the minister of launching “virulent attacks” against key figures in the coalition because of what it described as his “mortal fear” of its growing influence.
“Without justifying a behaviour that we find entirely incompatible with the office of a Federal Minister, we believe Minister Wike descended to this level out of fear—mortal fear—of the growing threat that the successful unveiling of the coalition of opposition political parties poses to the government he serves,” the statement read.
The party argued that Wike’s criticisms would have been unnecessary had the government he serves fulfilled its electoral promises to the Nigerian people.
Abdullahi pointed to ongoing issues in the FCT, including unpaid salaries of primary school teachers and rising insecurity, as key areas where Wike has failed.
“If Minister Wike had paid the salaries of primary school teachers who have been on strike for several months, and if he had not treated FCT workers with such blatant contempt—while going about commissioning white elephant projects running into billions of Naira—he would have had no reason to be afraid of the coalition,” the ADC spokesman said.
Wike had alleged during the chat that the coalition leaders were motivated purely by grievances. However, the ADC insisted that any grievances were based on legitimate failures of governance.
“If we have any grievances, it is with a government that has driven the majority of Nigerians into poverty and misery,” Abdullahi said.
“We are aggrieved to see the children of the poor unable to access education because he would not pay their teachers.
“We are aggrieved by the growing insecurity in the FCT under his watch. We are aggrieved that Minister Wike has allowed himself to be used to destroy one of the most powerful political parties in Africa, the PDP.”
The Coalition Movement, spearheaded by leaders of various opposition political groups, has been gaining national traction, promising to provide Nigerians with an alternative vision amid worsening economic and social conditions.
Abdullahi maintained that the coalition was not about personalities but a people-driven response to broken promises and declining governance.
“This coalition belongs to the Nigerian people—people who were promised renewed hope, but who have instead been served renewed hopelessness,” he said.
“It is too late in the day to cry wolf. No amount of tirade against the coalition’s leaders can stem the tide of this popular, people-driven movement.”
