Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday said he would not be distracted by the theatrics of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whom he claimed is using the current hardship to play politics at the expense of the masses.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, titled ‘Wike and His T-Pain Collaborators Playing Politics with the Suffering of Nigerians.’
Atiku’s statement was in response to Wike’s earlier remarks that the former Vice President has lost relevance in politics and that Nigerians have rejected him following his defeats in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections.
The former Rivers governor made these comments at a luncheon in honour of the 10th Rivers State Assembly on Saturday.
Reacting, Atiku said he was preoccupied with genuine issues affecting Nigerians and would not be distracted by Wike’s theatrics.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to the recent remarks made by Nyesom Wike, which can only be described as another of his theatrical outbursts. However, we remain calm, knowing that Nigerians are well acquainted with his antics, a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat to the Wazirin Adamawa at the 2022 party presidential primaries.
“Wike’s comments are nothing more than a string of inanities, lacking substance and driven by personal grievances. If he truly believes Nigerians are content with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it reveals a deeper truth: his priorities lie not with the people but with himself. This self-absorption is evident in his preoccupation with domestic affairs in Rivers rather than his ministerial responsibilities.”
He added, “While he may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, we remain focused on the genuine issues affecting Nigerians. Mr. Wike is more concerned with self-interest than addressing the real challenges faced by the nation. In contrast, our commitment remains unwavering, centred on the welfare and progress of the people.
“Wike appears to delight in conjuring fantasies, indulging in his imagination, and paying for live TV coverage to launch tirades against whomever he pleases. However, we shall not descend into the gutters where he feels at home. Instead, we prefer to rise above, maintaining our dignity while others revel in the mud.”
