Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, alleged on Thursday that David Mark, the National Chairman of a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), previously relied on helicopters for transport between Abuja and Otukpo. Wike claimed that during Mark’s eight-year tenure as Senate President under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, regional road networks were in such poor condition that travel by car was impossible.
Speaking at the launch of the Arterial Road N16 and Ring Road III intersection in the FCT—an event marking President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary and attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio—Wike contrasted the past lack of infrastructure with recent improvements. He argued that the current administration has successfully renovated roads that were neglected during Mark’s time in power. According to Wike, residents can now travel to Makurdi by road rather than relying on private air travel, which was once the only viable option for the former Senate President.
Wike concluded by urging critics to acknowledge the current administration’s infrastructure accomplishments, suggesting that those who previously struggled to commute now benefit from newly completed projects.