Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has accused former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of political inconsistency and betrayal.
On Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the former Rives state governor criticized Tambuwal’s previous remarks about preferring Atiku above him in terms of leadership.
“What do you mean by leadership and friendship? You cannot talk about leadership and ignore the person,” Wike said.
“These are people who have been consistently inconsistent. When you are a consistent betrayer, what do you expect?”
He further said that Tambuwal had positioned himself for a Senate position if Atiku won the 2023 presidential election, and that both men were renowned for switching parties for personal gain.
On September 6, Tambuwal, who had previously featured on the same broadcast, pledged his devotion to Atiku, emphasizing that his decisions were dictated by governance values rather than friendship.
According to him, his conflicts with politicians have always been ideological, and he has maintained cordial contacts with leaders from all parties.
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“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. 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.
He emphasized that his past disagreements with leaders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, were based on principles and ideology.
He explained, “We disagreed on principle, the way, and the direction things are going. I had no problem personally with Goodluck Jonathan, but we disagreed, and I left PDP for APC.”
The conflict between Wike and top PDP officials dates back to 2023, when Wike openly chastised Atiku, Tambuwal, and Bukola Saraki for abandoning zoning proposals that may have benefited the South.
He also reminded viewers that he previously supported Tambuwal’s quest for Speaker of the House of Representatives, despite the party’s preferences.
Tambuwal, on the other hand, emphasized that political disputes should not be interpreted as personal enmity.
“If Atiku comes in here and Wike requests my phone, I will give it to him as a personal friend,” he added.
