Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has replied the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, saying that the former Rivers State Governor’s comment against him (Atiku) was a “theatrical outburst” driven by personal grievances.
Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, said that he was preoccupied with genuine issues affecting Nigerians.
On Saturday, Atiku added that both Wike and President Bola Tinubu are collaborators in playing politics with Nigerians’ sufferings.
The former Vice President said this in a statement issued on Saturday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, while reacting to a statement attributed to Wike who reportedly said that Atiku had lost relevance in politics because Nigerians had rejected him.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to the recent remarks made by Mr. Nyesom Wike, which can only be described as another of his theatrical outbursts.
“Ordinarily, we would not respond, but we recognize that silence might be misinterpreted.
“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.
“Mr. 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.
“While he may seek to divert attention with his baseless rants, we remain focused on the genuine issues affecting Nigerians.
“It is clear that 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.
“Mr. 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.”