Former Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal has claimed that if forced to choose a leader for Nigeria’s future, he would support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
Tambuwal told Politics Today on Friday that his political decisions are influenced by governance concepts and principles rather than personal ties.
“When it comes to leadership of this country and leadership of the people, tomorrow, not even today, I would rather support Atiku than Nyesom Wike,” he said.
Tensions between Wike and senior PDP leaders extend back to 2023, when the former Rivers governor openly criticized Atiku, Tambuwal, and Bukola Saraki for allegedly breaking a zoning deal that would have favored the South on the party’s presidential ticket.
Wike at the time said, “There’s nobody contesting for the presidency from the north that I do not have a relationship with…that I don’t support. And there’s not one of them who has not come to me, Wike, and said, “With you, I think I’ll have my way…but if we agree on something, let’s keep to it.”
He also recalled supporting Tambuwal’s quest for Speaker of the House of Representatives, even though his party had a different preference.
Tambuwal clarified his current attitude, stating that political disagreements should never be misconstrued for personal hatred. He stated that he has always maintained cordial connections with leaders from various political backgrounds.
“It is a collaboration; it is not something difficult. Once it is about being altruistic and nothing personal. You have never seen me going against President Bola Tinubu personally; you have never heard of me going against Nyesom Wike personally,” he said.
Tambuwal also stated that his past clashes with figures such as former President Goodluck Jonathan were purely ideological.
“We disagreed on principle, the way, and the direction things are going. I had no problem personally with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, but we disagreed, and I left PDP for APC,” he explained.
Reemphasizing the line between leadership decisions and friendship, Tambuwal said, “It is not about my friendship with you, and I am saying this with all sense of responsibility. If Atiku Abubakar comes in here and Wike requests my phone, which is personal to me, I will personally give it to Wike as a personal friend.”
