Wike slams David Mark-led ADC faction, defends Tinubu’s FCT infrastructure strides

By Stanley Onyekwere

In a characteristic display of political fireworks, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a blistering attack on a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark, following opposition criticisms.

Wike mocked the opposition’s criticism of the current administration’s infrastructural focus, robustly defending the government’s track record.
The drama unfolded during the 12th day of project commissionings marking President Bola Tinubu’s third year in office—a marathon infrastructure showcase that commenced on June 9.

Recall that the row began when the ADC issued a press release taking a swipe at the government’s heavy capital investments, stating, “We are not going to eat road alone.”

Seizing on the statement during his address at the commissioning of a major road network connecting Gwarinpa and Jahi, Wike turned the criticism back on the purported detractors.

He noted that by making such a statement, the ADC had inadvertently conceded that the President is performing exceptionally well in infrastructure development.

“Let us start with the one that they have conceded—that yes, indeed, Mr. President, you have done very, very well.

“Without road, you cannot go to hospital. Without road, you cannot go to school. Road is the bedrock; it is the engine of development,” Wike stated.

Turning his sights directly onto David Mark, the FCT Minister contrasted the visible progress under the current administration with Mark’s eight-year, uninterrupted tenure as Senate President.

He launched into specific historical grievances regarding regional connectivity and basic amenities.

He pointed out that the critical Akwanga-Makurdi road was originally awarded during Mark’s time in the ruling party, yet it was left completely neglected.

“The poor people could not afford to go to homes in Makurdi because there was no road. But the Senate President then… was flying with a helicopter.

How many poor people have a helicopter?” Wike asked, noting that motorists can now drive freely on that axis due to current federal interventions.

Responding to claims that the government is “only doing roads,” Wike challenged the ADC faction leader to show his historical footprint regarding water supply to Abuja’s satellite towns.

Also , the Minister emphasized that the Gwarinpa-Jahi project being commissioned was actually awarded in May 2023, just two days before the Tinubu administration took office, without any mobilization funds.

He praised the President’s political will to treat government as a continuum rather than abandoning inherited projects.

Setting the record straight on the administration’s diversification of development, Wike listed ongoing non-road achievements designed to upgrade public utilities like the recently commissioned a neighborhood water provision scheme in Karu to alleviate long-standing scarcity.

He announced that on the 14th of July, the President—represented by the First Lady—will officially commission a major satellite water scheme in Bwari.

Wike concluded his address by challenging the opposition to point to verifiable budget provisions made during their own time in power to fund basic infrastructure for ordinary Nigerians, emphasizing that the current administration will continue to focus on tangible, societal development.