News
“Show your scorecards if there’s any”-Wike tasks arrowheads of coalition
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged arrowheads in the opposition coalition, accusing them of deceiving Nigerians and warning that they would not regain power in the 2027 general elections.
The FCT minister, on Friday, targeted the Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, during the commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Aguma Palace–Radio Nigeria–New Market Road in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
The event was part of projects earmarked to commemorate President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President, presided over the commissioning.
Wike used the platform to take a swipe at the opposition figures, urging them to show evidence of what they achieved during their time in office.
“They said that the coalition started 18 months ago and Tinubu has been in office for two years. So you started the coalition when he was just six months in office. When will you stop deceiving Nigerians?” he queried.
Taking a personal jab at their individual records, Wike reminded David Mark of his tenure as Senate President and Amaechi’s time as both Speaker and Minister of Transportation.
“You had the opportunity to be Senate President for eight years. Amaechi had the chance to be Speaker for four years and Minister for eight years. Yet, he never made angry Nigerians happy,” Wike said.
“Let everyone show their scorecard. When I was Senate President, how did I help the people of Benue? How did I impact Otukpo? Is it by flying helicopters there? We’ve been in office for just 16 days, and we’re already showing results.”
The FCT Minister insisted that leadership must be backed with proof of performance and not noise. According to him, the narrative being pushed by opposition figures about national discontent is only a strategy to regain relevance and return to power.
“You had the opportunity to make Nigerians happy, but you refused. Now you say Nigerians are angry just because you’re out of office. You will not come back to power,” he declared.
Wike, known for his vocal criticisms, reiterated the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development in the FCT, stating that under President Tinubu’s leadership, more projects would be delivered to improve the lives of residents.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that their naval forces stopped two ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz and directed them to the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval force this morning identified and stopped in the Strait of Hormuz two violating ships,” the Guards said in a statement.
“The two offending ships… were seized by the IRGC’s naval forces and directed to the Iranian coast.”
They identified one ship as “MSC-FRANCESCA”, which they said belonged “to the Zionist regime” in reference to Israel, and the other as “EPAMINONDAS”, which they said was “tampering with navigation systems and jeopardising maritime security.”
The Guards further warned against any action against the regulations imposed by the Islamic republic in the strait “as well as activities contrary to the safe passage” through the waterway.
Tehran has said vessels must seek permission to leave of enter the Gulf through Hormuz, through a route that in peacetime accounts for a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports along with other vital commodities.
Source: AFP
Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has advised the Nigerian government to rethink its stance on refusing to negotiate with terrorists, saying dialogue may be key to ending the country’s long-running violence.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Kaduna-based cleric argued that Nigeria is being influenced by a “Western slogan” that does not always reflect reality.
He stressed that talks, rather than force alone, could help break the cycle of attacks affecting many parts of the country.
Gumi also warned that weak border control is worsening insecurity, allowing weapons and criminal elements to move freely.
According to him, this has made it more difficult to defeat terrorism and protect citizens.
He pointed to ongoing tensions involving the United States and Iran, saying even powerful nations engage in negotiations despite public positions against it. He urged Nigeria to draw lessons from such situations.
He said: “We should not be misled by the Western slogan, ‘We don’t negotiate with terrorists.’”
Gumi added that violence often leads to more suffering for civilians, as both terrorist attacks and military operations tend to harm innocent people.
He further explained: “As long as Nigeria’s borders remain porous, the cycle of violence will persist.”
The cleric emphasised that understanding the root causes of terrorism is crucial to finding lasting solutions, warning that force alone cannot resolve the crisis.
In his words: “The lesson is clear: lasting solutions require realism, dialogue, and strategic understanding, not just force.”
Gumi suggested that Nigeria may need a neutral mediator to help open dialogue and reduce tensions, similar to efforts seen in other conflict zones.
Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, has nominated and forwarded Murtala Garo to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as the new deputy governor of the State.
This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mustapha Muhammad, late Tuesday night.
According to the statement: “The nomination is in line with Section 191(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the Governor to nominate a Deputy Governor where a vacancy exists.”
Recall that the position of the deputy governor became vacant after the resignation of Abdussalam Gwarzo on March 27, 2026.
“Following wide consultations with key stakeholders, the Governor has requested the Assembly to grant the necessary approval for Garo’s nomination,” the statement added.
Iran Seizes Two Ships attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz
Gumi wants Nigerian government to consider dialogue in tackling terrorism
Kano Gov nominates Garo as deputy
-
News12 hours agoHow Tinubu Sacked Finance Minister Wale Edun Weeks After Hon. Alex Mascot Exposed ‘Missing’ N1.15tr
-
News12 hours agoYul Edochie Under Attack Over Disparaging Post Against Peter Obi
-
Health12 hours agoCross River reports outbreak of Covid-19, activates response centre
-
News12 hours agoOkowa Accuses Ned Nwoko of Misleading Anioma People Over State Creation Proposal
-
Entertainment12 hours agoDavido Bags Political Appointment
-
Foreign11 hours agoTrump Extends Ceasefire To Give Iran More Time To Negotiate
-
Metro11 hours agoSoldiers Arrest Suspected IPOB Leader Over K!lling Of Delta Police Officer
-
News12 hours agoDangiwa Reacts To His Sack As Minister By Tinubu
You must be logged in to post a comment Login