No road in Otukpo your hometown — Wike bombs David Mark

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Senate President and Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, accusing him of abandoning his hometown, Otukpo, throughout his tenure in public office.

Wike, speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, described Mark’s recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu as hypocritical.

He argued that despite Mark’s long years of service, both as a military and civilian leader, his own constituency saw no tangible development, particularly the absence of any road project in Otukpo.

“I heard David Mark say they want to rescue Nigeria, that Nigerians are angry. But during his eight years as Senate President, were Nigerians happy? Not one road project was delivered in Otukpo his own community.
Nigerians weren’t angry then; so why the sudden outrage now?” Wike challenged.

Wike also accused former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, of plunging Nigeria into massive foreign debt without attracting public backlash at the time.

“When Amaechi was minister, Nigerians accepted the foreign loans. It’s only now that Nigerians are ‘angry’ — conveniently timed for political point-scoring,” Wike said.

He went on to criticize other members of the new political coalition, including Interim Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, stating that history would judge them for their roles in the country’s current state.

Wike questioned the genuineness of their criticisms and challenged them to examine their own records in office before pointing fingers at the present administration.

“When you were in power, Nigerians weren’t angry. The moment you lost power, suddenly Nigerians are angry. What did you do to change the nation’s trajectory when you held the reins?” he asked.