Wike Criticizes Atiku: Says It’s Too Late to Buy Character and Integrity

The Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, stating that it is too late for him to acquire the character and integrity he has allegedly lacked since birth. Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, emphasized that Atiku’s former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, knows him best and had already exposed his character flaws.

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Wike Questions Atiku’s Integrity

Wike’s remarks were in response to a statement from the Atiku Media Office, which had claimed that character was the reason the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) committee’s recommendation for a vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 election was rejected. Olayinka, speaking on Wike’s behalf, dismissed Atiku’s stance, stating that the former Vice President has never been a person of integrity.

According to Olayinka, Atiku’s character deficiencies had long been identified, even before Wike was offered the position of his running mate. He stated that Wike initially rejected the offer due to Atiku’s unimpressive record on integrity but later reconsidered due to party pressures. However, Olayinka accused Atiku of displaying the same lack of character when he ultimately disregarded the PDP committee’s decision and chose Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

He said:

“Now, after his lies that he picked his running mate based on the committee report that placed the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as number one was busted, he is now sermonizing about character and integrity, which he himself does not have.”

Obasanjo’s Scathing Remarks on Atiku Resurface

Olayinka further pointed out that Obasanjo had previously condemned Atiku in his autobiography My Watch, describing him as a person with a shadowy background, a tendency for corruption, and a lack of transparency. He quoted a passage from Obasanjo’s book that listed Atiku’s alleged character flaws, including disloyalty, dishonesty, and reliance on money and marabouts (spiritual advisers) to achieve his political goals.

He continued:

“For the records, Obasanjo said in his book, ‘My Watch’ that ‘What I did not know, which came out glaringly later, was his parental background which was somewhat shadowy, his propensity to corruption, his tendency to disloyalty, his inability to say and stick to the truth all the time, a propensity for poor judgment, his belief and reliance on marabouts, his lack of transparency, his trust in money to buy his way out on all issues, and his readiness to sacrifice morality, integrity, propriety, truth and national interest for self and selfish interest.’”

Olayinka noted that despite these accusations from Obasanjo, Atiku had never publicly refuted them, implying that they remain valid.

Wike Accuses Atiku of Political Deception

The FCT Minister’s aide went further to contrast Wike’s straightforwardness with what he described as Atiku’s political deception. According to Olayinka, Wike does not hide his stance on political matters, unlike Atiku, whom he accused of frequently deleting social media posts to cover his tracks.

“Unlike Atiku, Wike does not hide or pretend on where he stands on issues. He is not one that will do a tweet on major issues and rush to delete it. He didn’t pretend about his position on the 2023 election and he won’t pretend on where he will stand in 2027.”

He suggested that Atiku, who has contested the presidency multiple times, should focus on being truthful rather than being desperate for power.

“It is Atiku who should start being truthful and reliable, especially now that he is old, because everything should not be about desperation to be president.”

Political Tensions Ahead of 2027 Elections

The renewed war of words between Wike and Atiku highlights the deep divisions within the PDP, particularly after the 2023 elections. Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, had been one of Atiku’s strongest challengers in the PDP’s 2022 presidential primaries. After losing the ticket to Atiku, Wike became a prominent critic of the party’s leadership and played a significant role in the emergence of the G5 governors, a faction that opposed Atiku’s candidacy.

The verbal exchange also signals the beginning of political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general elections. While Atiku has not declared his intentions for the next election, Wike’s remarks suggest that internal conflicts within the PDP may persist, affecting the party’s cohesion and strategy moving forward.

With these accusations and counter-accusations flying, political observers believe the PDP must resolve its internal disputes if it hopes to remain a formidable opposition party in the years to come.