The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described prominent opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, them as “known liars” who have failed to provide Nigerians with a credible political alternative. LEADERSHIP reports.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike accused opposition parties of hypocrisy and incompetence, citing controversies that trailed their recent primary elections as evidence of their inability to manage internal democratic processes.
According to the minister, parties that had presented themselves as agents of change and reform had exposed their weaknesses through disputed primaries and internal disagreements.
“They said they are the saviours that will come. What has happened now? NDC said, ‘We are the new face of democracy.’ ADC said theirs is a party that has not been polluted. Everything has become so dirty,” Wike stated.
The former Rivers State governor particularly criticised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), noting that the party struggled to conduct a smooth primary election despite its relatively small size.
“See what has happened in the NDC. As small as they are, they cannot conduct a primary without protest,” he said.
Wike also took aim at the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he said had positioned itself as a coalition determined to rescue Nigeria’s democracy from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Look at the ADC that said it is a coalition to take over from the APC. What has happened?” he queried.
The FCT minister argued that the controversies surrounding the opposition parties’ congresses had exposed contradictions among leaders who frequently criticise other political parties for electoral irregularities.
According to him, some presidential aspirants who participated in the exercises openly expressed disappointment with the conduct of the primaries.
“Two presidential aspirants said they could not believe what was happening and questioned why they were engaging in the same practices they had accused others of,” Wike said.
He maintained that recent developments had unmasked attempts by opposition leaders to portray themselves as political messiahs ahead of future elections.
“Who is deceiving who? Who is coming to Nigerians to tell them that they are the new-born baby and the messiah of our time?” he asked.
“Nigerians have now known that they are all liars. They cannot continue to deceive the people,” he added.
Wike further argued that the events had validated longstanding concerns about internal weaknesses across opposition platforms, insisting that established political parties remain better suited to navigate Nigeria’s political realities.
