Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has responded to recent remarks made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, stating that he will not engage in a war of words or “descend into the gutter” with him.
This comes after Wike, during a function in Port Harcourt on Saturday, referred to Atiku as a rejected politician, mocking him for his statements regarding the local government election in Rivers State.
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Wike’s comments were in response to Atiku’s earlier assertion that the people of Rivers had shown their resistance to political oppression and godfatherism.
Wike ridiculed Atiku, stating that if an election they did not participate in could be interpreted as a rejection of his faction, then Atiku’s own loss in the last presidential election should be seen as a rejection by Nigerians, suggesting that he should “pack up and go home.”
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In a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku dismissed Wike’s remarks as nothing more than “a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal grievances.”
Atiku accused Wike of prioritizing his personal interests over the well-being of Nigerians, especially given the minister’s focus on local issues in Rivers State rather than his responsibilities as an FCT minister.
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Atiku said, “While Mr. Wike may attempt to distract with his baseless rants, we remain focused on the real issues affecting Nigerians. His fixation on his own grievances only underscores his self-interest.”
He added that Wike’s theatrical outbursts are not new, suggesting that Wike’s behavior is rooted in lingering bitterness over his defeat to Atiku in the 2022 PDP presidential primaries.
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Atiku concluded by saying, “We shall not descend into the gutters where he feels at home. Instead, we will rise above, maintaining our dignity while others choose to indulge in mudslinging.”
He expressed confidence that Nigerians are fully aware of Wike’s antics and the motivations behind his recent outbursts.
