Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, slammed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday, calling him a serial failure and dismissing his criticism of the current administration.
Wike spoke to reporters during a routine tour of infrastructure projects in Kuje and other parts of the FCT, rejecting Atiku’s recent remarks on national television that Bola Tinubu’s government had failed to alleviate Nigerians’ poverty.
Responding immediately, the minister urged the former vice president to compare his performance in office to current developments in the FCT.
“At a certain age, one should be able to look at facts objectively. He lives in the FCT; let him compare the FCT of today to the eight years when he was vice president.
“We have been in office for less than three years, yet the transformation is clear. Nigerians would laugh at anyone suggesting nothing is being done,” Wike stated.
He also questioned Atiku’s credibility, invoking remarks previously made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“His own boss, President Obasanjo, publicly described him as a failure and questioned his character. Why should I bother replying to someone whose own principal attached the tag of corruption to him?” he said.
In a satirical tone, Wike stated that he would encourage Atiku to continue running for office despite his age, claiming that the 2027 presidential campaign was out of reach.
“I encourage him to run. It seems that is the only way he stays relevant. But 2027 is not available for him,” he added.
The minister also denied allegations made by the African Democratic Congress that he attempted to revoke the license of the Rainbow Event Centre in Garki in order to thwart the party’s planned national conference, calling the claims fake.
He questioned the party’s timetable, noting that a request supposedly submitted on April 7 for a convention slated for April 14, with no follow-up until the eve of the event, showed a premeditated attempt to incriminate the FCT government.
Wike also discounted the power of a planned opposition alliance, which purportedly includes Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Nasir El-Rufai, claiming that it would not provide a serious challenge.
“They say El-Rufai and Obi are there, so it is a strong opposition. Watch and see; the PDP will still be stronger than the ADC.
“In the last FCT elections, the ADC couldn’t even win a single councilorship. How do they intend to win the country?” he said.
The minister concluded by asking opposition parties to focus on domestic issues rather than criticizing the administration.
Atiku stated that the 2027 presidential election would be his last.
Atiku revealed this in an interview with Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday.
