Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised the leaders of the newly formed opposition coalition, questioning their motives and accusing them of seeking power only to serve personal interests.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Abuja on Sunday, Wike said many of the coalition figures are political opportunists with no consistent ideology or commitment to genuine national transformation.

“These are the same people that want to rescue Nigerians,” Wike said. “You are a minister for interior here. To go and get an international passport, you will spend weeks and months and years before you get it. But look at your young boy — within hours, he got an international passport. And yet, you come and tell us Nigerians are angry. Nigerians are angry with you.”

Wike questioned the sincerity of politicians who have changed political parties frequently, saying they have no ideological base or stable vision for national progress.

“Today, in 1999, you are in this party. In 2006, you are in another party. In 2014, you moved to another party. In 2019, you came back to another party. By 2025, you are moving to another party. To rescue who? You want to rescue your stomach. It’s not Nigeria you want to rescue,” he said.

He also criticised a former governor without naming him, accusing him of failing to uphold democratic principles during his time in office.

“For eight years, he was governor. He never conducted local government elections. And Nigerians were not angry? Nigerians were happy that he refused to conduct local government elections?” he asked. “Only you, governor of all the local governments. And none of you asked questions. Now they will come out and begin to talk. Democracy is not working.”

Wike appeared to dismiss recent statements from members of the opposition who claimed to have formed a coalition to challenge the current administration.

“He said he formed coalition for 18 months, which means the president was in office for six months. They cannot stay out of power. Unfortunately, they have stayed out. They will come back. They will not come back,” he said.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“If Tinubu’s government will not work, I will not support. But if it will work, I will support,” he said.