The Grassroots Mobilization Network (GMN) has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to heal from the pains of his electoral defeats and stop “sulking like a baby.”
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by its Secretary-General, Usman Bala Idris, the group described Wike’s verbal attack on the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, over the state of roads in the FCT, as grossly irresponsible.
The GMN said it was reckless for Wike to seize every opportunity to attack Senator Mark and other respected statesmen simply because of his defeat at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held several years ago.
According to the group, rather than allowing the disappointment of that loss to fade more than four years later, Wike appears unable to move on.
The statement further suggested that the emergence of Wike’s kinsman and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as the ADC’s vice-presidential candidate, may have triggered the renewed attacks on Senator Mark.
The group also dismissed Wike’s allegations regarding Senator Mark’s use of helicopters while in office, describing them as baseless.
“It is surprising that Wike, who has travelled in various private jets—including the Rivers State-owned aircraft for over twelve years—would make such allegations against Senator Mark long after he completed his tenure as a two-term President of the Senate,” the statement said.
The GMN stressed that the constitutional responsibility of the President of the Senate is to make laws for the good governance of the country, not to supervise construction projects or compete with contractors in building roads.
“It is therefore completely misplaced to suggest that Senator Mark, as President of the Senate, was responsible for constructing roads,” the group stated.
It further reminded Wike that one of Senator Mark’s constitutional duties was to screen and confirm ministerial nominees, a process through which Wike himself passed before assuming ministerial office.
Describing Senator Mark as “a nationalist of high repute, a competent presiding officer, and a distinguished General,” the group said he had served Nigeria meritoriously in every capacity entrusted to him.
“The nation has once again called on Senator Mark to provide leadership at this critical moment. No amount of insults or personal attacks will discourage patriotic Nigerians from the collective task of rescuing the country from the grip of leaders who have failed to place national interest above personal ambition,” the statement added.
