• Wike to Atiku: You lied over 2023 VP slot
• No. You lack character, dignity, humility, Atiku tells Wike
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have now engaged in war-of-words over the choice of the Vice Presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 presidential poll.
Wike has described Atiku, the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 elections as a liar over his position on the choice of his running mate while Atiku described the FCT Minister as someone lacking in character, dignity, and humility.
Speaking in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday, Wike said it was a lie that the committee set up by the PDP to select its vice presidential candidate in the 2023 elections rated a former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as its first choice.
Olayinka, who said it was unfortunate that Atiku could not respect the Holy Month of Ramadan and avoid telling lies, asked how a committee will present the person who had two votes as first choice as against the person who had 13 votes.
It is instructive to note that Atiku had said in an interview that: “So in 2023, I told the party to set up a committee to recommend three names.
“The committee ranked Okowa as the top choice, with Wike in second place and former Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel in third.
“So I picked number one.”
But faulting Atiku’s claim, the FCT Minister’s spokesperson said that it became necessary to put the records straight, hence the need to debunk Abubakar’s lies.
Olayinka said: “Wike never put himself forward to be Atiku’s running mate then, Atiku did by himself, and he (Wike) accepted his offer with conditions.”
He said it was a fact that in the committee report, Wike had 13 votes, while Okowa had two.
He said: “The committee set up by the PDP picked Wike as Atiku’s running mate, but for reasons best known to him, he settled for Okowa, who had two votes from the committee members. That’s the truth Atiku should tell and stand with, not trying to colour his decision with falsehood.”
Olayinka, who noted that for devout Muslims, the period of Ramadan is that of holiness, said: “Al-Bukhaari (1903, 6057) quoted Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) as saying that Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said: ‘Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) has no need of him giving up his food and drink.’
“Unfortunate, Atiku chose to tell lies so brazenly during the holy month of Ramadan, obviously forgetting that Allah (SWT) do not hearken to the prayers of liars, probably the reason he (Atiku) has continually failed in his desperation to be president of Nigeria.”
Advising Atiku to always be honest to stand by his decisions, Olayinka said the FCT Minister was no longer interested in what happened and what did not happen concerning the 2023 presidential election.
He said, “Like I said earlier, Wike has no regret for Atiku not picking him as his running mate and he also has no regret taking the position he took concerning the presidential election.”
But Atiku has reacted to Wike’s claim, saying that there are other considerations such as character, humility and dignity to be considered before choosing a running mate, saying that Wike lacked the attributes.
Responding in a statement by his Media Office on Saturday, Atiku said that despite the fact that a selection committee was put in place, the final verdict rested with him as the candidate.
The statement said: “The attention of Atiku Media Office has been drawn to yet another emotional outburst disguised as a press statement from the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, issued by his aide, Lere Olayinka.
“While we understand that bitterness often finds expression in misplaced aggression, we must remind Mr. Wike and his team that a bitter heart isn’t capable of charity, nor does it inspire unity, healing, or truth.
“Once again, facts have been twisted in a desperate attempt to rewrite history. Mr. Wike, through his spokesperson, claims that he had 13 votes from a committee set up to recommend a vice presidential running mate, while Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa had only two.
“Let us be clear: there are no laid down rules or laws on the selection process of a running mate. Committees, consultations, and recommendations are advisory in nature. The final decision rests solely and exclusively with the presidential candidate, in this case, Atiku Abubakar. It is a constitutional and strategic choice, not a popularity contest.
“Assuming, but not conceding that Wike had 13 votes and Okowa had 2 — just like universities confer degrees ‘in learning and in character’ — one must ask: what is the worth of votes if character scores a zero? Leadership is not only about numbers; it is about temperament, dignity, and the ability to unify. A man may boast of numbers, but if his conduct lacks grace and humility, those numbers are empty.
“We make no apologies for choosing Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate in 2023. That decision was based on a combination of intellect, composure, and statesmanship.
“We have been vindicated by Mr. Wike’s public conduct in Rivers State where he once served as governor and in Abuja since becoming FCT Minister, which has made it abundantly clear why he was unsuitable for the role of Vice President in a ticket meant to unify, not divide.
“We urge Mr. Wike and his social media spokesperson to resist the temptation to sermonize about religious piety during Ramadan and Lent, too, while simultaneously fanning the flames of discord. Let us not reduce sacred periods to a tool for petty political jabs.
“The task of rebuilding our party and our nation is a serious one. It is time to move beyond bruised egos and focus on what truly matters: the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its people!”
