The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has fired back at Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, following recent comments made by Wike claiming that Nigerians had rejected Atiku and that the former vice president should exit the political scene.
Responding through his spokesman, Paul Ibe, Atiku dismissed Wike’s remarks, stating that he would not “descend into the gutters” to exchange insults. The statement emphasized that Wike’s comments were merely a continuation of his personal grievances stemming from his loss to Atiku in the 2022 PDP presidential primaries.
Wike had earlier remarked, “I hear Atiku Abubakar said that Nigerians have rejected us in Rivers State. You, who have contested and failed woefully, Nigerians have rejected you; therefore, go back home.”
Atiku, in response, stated that Wike and his allies were merely playing politics at the expense of the real issues facing Nigerians. The statement signed by Paul Ibe noted, “Wike’s outburst is nothing more than a collection of baseless statements, driven by personal bitterness and completely detached from the realities Nigerians face daily.”
Ibe added that Wike’s preoccupation with local affairs in Rivers State, despite his national responsibilities as a minister, revealed his true priorities. “If Mr. Wike genuinely believes Nigerians are satisfied with the current state of the country under the government he serves, then he is further removed from the people than we thought,” the statement read.
Atiku’s camp made it clear that they will not engage in the mudslinging that Wike seems comfortable with, preferring instead to maintain focus on the issues that affect the welfare and progress of the Nigerian people.
The former vice president concluded that while Wike indulges in grandstanding and paying for live TV coverage to air his grievances, his own commitment remains steadfast to addressing the country’s challenges, not personal vendettas.
This exchange highlights the ongoing tension within the PDP, particularly between Atiku and Wike, a rivalry that dates back to the party’s 2022 presidential primaries, which Atiku won. The internal party dynamics remain a source of interest as both figures continue to play significant roles in Nigeria’s political landscape.
