By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has told opposition figures to stop their “media noise” and focus on fixing their own political houses and problems, dismissing recent criticisms of the President Tinubu-led administration as the desperate gasps of “serial failures.”
Speaking during a routine inspection of infrastructure projects in Kuje yesterday, Wike specifically targeted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), telling them that political relevance is earned through performance, not television appearances.
Responding to Atiku’s recent claims that the current government has failed to provide relief to Nigerians, Wike used a domestic metaphor to describe the opposition’s lack of preparation.
“As you make your bed, you must lie on it. They didn’t dress their bed, and now they want to blame the Minister for their discomfort.
“I advise them to focus on dressing their own beds rather than making noise on television.”
Wike challenged Atiku to compare the transformation of the FCT under the current administration to the eight years Atiku served as Vice President.
“We have been in the office for less than three years, yet the transformation is clear,” he noted.
Wike mockingly encouraged the 82-year-old Atiku to run again in 2027 and 2031, adding, “I encourage him to run; it seems that is the only way he stays relevant. But 2027 is not available for him.”
Wike also brushed off rumors of a “mega-party” alliance involving figures like Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Nasir El-Rufai.
Using the ADC’s poor performance in FCT local elections as a yardstick, the Minister questioned how parties that cannot win a councillorship expect to win the presidency.
“They say El-Rufai and Obi are there, so it is a strong opposition. Watch and see; the PDP will still be stronger than the ADC,” Wike predicted.
Addressing allegations from the ADC that he attempted to revoke the license of the Rainbow Event Center to frustrate their national convention, the Minister dismissed the claims as “unfortunate lies.”
“I don’t even know where Rainbow Event Center is,” Wike said, adding that the timeline of the ADC’s request suggested a premeditated attempt to frame the FCT administration for their own organizational lapses.
He however,warned that appropriate sanctions would be pursued against those spreading falsehoods to gain cheap public sympathy.
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