Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said the public conduct for the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike both in Rivers State where he once served as governor, and in Abuja since becoming minister, has shown that he was unsuitable for the role of vice president in a ticket meant to unify, not divide the party.
Atiku was reacting to Wike’s claim that he got 13 votes from a committee set up to recommend a vice presidential running mate, to Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s two.
The former vice president in a statement by his media office in Abuja on Saturday, said leadership is not about numbers; “it is about temperament, dignity, and the ability to unify.”
He added that a man may boast of numbers, but his conduct lacks grace and humility.
“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,” Atiku said.
He accused Wike of twisting fact in a desperate attempt to rewrite history, reminding him that there are no laid down rules or laws on the selection process of a running mate.
According to him, “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 two, just like universities confer degrees ‘in learning and in character,’ one must ask: what is the worth of votes if character scores a zero?”
Atiku advised Wike to resist the temptation to sermonise about religious piety during Ramadan and Lent, “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!”
