Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has hit back at Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, following comments where Wike labeled him a “rejected politician.” Wike made these remarks during a function in Port Harcourt on Saturday, seemingly in reference to Atiku’s earlier statement after the local government elections in Rivers State. Atiku had praised the people of Rivers for rejecting “political oppression, harassment, and the manipulations of self-serving godfathers.”
During the event, Wike stated, “If you claim that an election we didn’t contest shows Nigerians have rejected us, fine. But you, who contested and failed miserably, have clearly been rejected by Nigerians. So pack up and go home.”
In response, Atiku, through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, dismissed Wike’s comments as “a series of empty words driven by personal grievances.” He added, “If Wike truly believes Nigerians are satisfied with the current state of the nation under the government he serves, it shows his focus is on himself, not the people.”
Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election, argued that Wike’s self-interest is evident in his focus on Rivers State politics rather than his duties as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He stated, “While Wike may attempt to distract with baseless rants, we remain focused on addressing the real issues affecting Nigerians. It’s clear that he is more concerned with his own agenda than with solving the challenges facing the nation.”
Atiku further accused Wike of indulging in “fantasies” and using live TV to launch attacks on political figures. He emphasized that he would not engage in such gutter-level politics, saying, “We prefer to rise above, maintaining our dignity while others revel in the mud.”
Atiku described Wike’s recent comments as yet another of his “theatrical outbursts,” and said that Nigerians are fully aware of Wike’s antics, which stem from bitterness over his loss to Atiku during the 2022 PDP presidential primaries.
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