Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that he is preoccupied with issues affecting Nigerians.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 election, accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his collaborators of playing politics with the sufferings of Nigerians.
He stated this in response to Wike, who had at an event in Rivers State, said having contested the presidential election in 2019 and 2023 as the PDP candidate and lost, Atiku has been rejected by Nigerians.
Atiku said, “We never contested local government elections. Did we contest? Did we pick a form? I hear Atiku Abubakar say: ‘Oh they have rejected me in Rivers State. Okay, assuming though not conceding, he had lost so many times, Nigerians have also rejected him”.
However, reacting via an issued statement at the weekend, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, noted that the former VP won’t descend into the gutters where the FCT Minister feels at home.
He stated that while Wike may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, Nigerians must remain focused on the genuine issues affecting them. According to him, it is clear that Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation.
The statement read in part: “Wike’s comments are nothing more than a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal grievances. If he truly believes Nigerians are content with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it reveals a deeper truth: his priorities lie not with the people but with himself. This self-absorption is evident in his preoccupation with domestic affairs in Rivers rather than his ministerial responsibilities.
“While he may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, we remain focused on the genuine issues affecting Nigerians. It is clear that. Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation. In contrast, our commitment remains unwavering, centred on the welfare and progress of the people.
“Wike appears to delight in conjuring fantasies, indulging in his imagination, and paying for live TV coverage to launch tirades against whomever he pleases. However, we shall not descend into the gutters where he feels at home. Instead, we prefer to rise above, maintaining our dignity while others revel in the mud”.
