Why Nigerians must reject ADC coalition – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to reject the emerging coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), branding its members as “naysayers and unpatriotic.”

Wike alleged that the coalition’s sole objective is to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 despite what he described as their lackluster performance in previous public offices.

Speaking at the 35th Combined Convocation and 50th Anniversary of the University of Port Harcourt on Saturday, where he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science, Wike defended President Tinubu’s administration, stating that the government has already begun recording significant progress through tough but essential policy decisions.

According to him, “Through his Renewed Hope Agenda, he has with the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund among other remarkable initiatives started the dramatic transformation of tertiary education landscape in such a way that soon, no willing child will be denied access to quality education because of economic hardship.

“Our country is undoubtedly on the path of positive ascendency and very soon, the impact will be visible even to the blind and obvious even to the cynically minded,” he said.

The minister also dismissed what he described as coordinated misinformation campaigns by the ADC coalition, aimed at discrediting the Tinubu administration ahead of the next general elections.

He maintained that the government’s reforms are already yielding results, citing the recent drop in fuel prices and other indicators of progress.

“We must resist the purveyors of lies, hate and division who seek to destroy our country,” Wike told the audience.

“These men and women who converge under the banner of so-called coalition and propelling a division of grandeur and perpetual fight for relevance and political power.

“If you interrogate their profiles, you will find that they have been in office for almost all their lives. Yet, they have nothing concrete to show of their achievements in building an enduring nation.”

Wike continued, “In only two years of this administration, they are congregating to destroy rather than build and rather than reconstruct our hitherto battered country for which most of them have been active dramatis personae in the willful destruction of our politics and economy which they painfully orchestrated in their respective tenure in office.

“We know these naysayers and you are enjoined to reject them and their unpatriotic drum beats of division and failed propaganda.”

Highlighting his long-standing ties to the University of Port Harcourt as both a former governor and minister, Wike said his contributions to the institution stem from a deep sense of gratitude as an alumnus.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that I have always strongly believed that every alumnus should give back to the university as a mark of pure gratitude.

“This also explains why I freely give to this institution whenever I have had the opportunity to so do,” he said.

Wike recalled how, during his time as Minister of State for Education, he advocated for the creation of a Law Faculty at the university.

“To this extent, you would recall that even though this university was established in 1975 as a conventional university, there was no Law faculty in this university.

“So, when I became a Minister of State (for) Education, I saw it as an opportunity that we must have a Faculty of Law.

“I’m glad that the Vice-Chancellor said it here today that today, we have a Faculty of Law. I did not only end at that; I said there must be a befitting Faculty of Law building, and I insisted, and today, we have that Faculty of Law.”