Atiku fires back at Wike over presidential bid comments

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over recent remarks concerning Atiku’s failed presidential bid.

In a statement issued late Saturday by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, the former vice president described Wike’s comments as “theatrical outbursts” motivated by lingering personal grievances.

The statement pointed to Wike’s defeat at the 2022 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries as the root cause of his ongoing attacks on Atiku. According to Atiku’s camp, Wike’s remarks were “a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal bitterness.”

“If Wike truly believes Nigerians are satisfied with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it shows where his priorities lie—more with himself than with the people,” the statement read. It went on to accuse the former Rivers State governor of being more preoccupied with local matters in Rivers than his responsibilities as a minister.

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The response came after Wike, during a luncheon for loyal members of the Rivers State Assembly in Port Harcourt, took a swipe at Atiku over his multiple unsuccessful presidential campaigns. Wike’s comments followed Atiku’s mockery of him over the Rivers State local government elections, in which the Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 of the 23 local government chairmanship positions. The PDP, Wike’s former party, had withdrawn from the election.

Atiku’s team criticized Wike for trying to distract the public with “baseless rants,” and emphasized that their focus remains on addressing the real challenges facing Nigeria. “Wike delights in conjuring fantasies and indulging in his imagination, often using live TV coverage to launch tirades. But while he prefers the mud, we choose to rise above it,” the statement continued.

Despite Wike’s latest comments, Atiku’s camp remains resolute, stating that their focus is on the “welfare and progress” of Nigerians, contrasting what they called Wike’s “self-absorption” with Atiku’s commitment to the nation.

Atiku’s team also highlighted that Wike’s behavior is nothing new, as Nigerians are familiar with his “antics” and that his outbursts reflect his lingering dissatisfaction with losing the PDP presidential primaries to Atiku.

While Wike continues to make headlines with his public attacks, Atiku and his camp insist they will not be dragged into the minister’s “gutter politics,” choosing instead to maintain their focus on Nigeria’s pressing issues.