Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has fired back at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, calling him a traitor bent on sabotaging the PDP from within.
Wike, during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, had dismissed recent discussions about forming a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu, describing the efforts as disingenuous and driven by selfish political ambitions. He accused Atiku and other key opposition figures of neglecting the internal issues plaguing the PDP while pursuing personal aspirations to clinch power.
Reacting through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku condemned Wike’s comments and questioned his credibility on matters of integrity and loyalty. According to Atiku, Wike has no moral standing to speak on sincerity, having aligned himself with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while simultaneously undermining the PDP.
In a statement to The Punch, Atiku’s camp accused Wike of betraying the very party that gave him a platform and of actively colluding with the APC to destabilize the opposition and frustrate genuine democratic efforts.
“Wike is in no position to lecture anyone on sincerity,” Atiku stated. “Here is a man who openly betrayed the PDP and is now serving in an APC-led government, working against the same party that nurtured his political career. What does he know about loyalty or sincerity? Absolutely nothing.”
Taking a swipe at the current administration, Atiku criticized President Tinubu, labeling him an “absentee president” and alleging that governance is being run through informal channels rather than accountable leadership. He added, “If Wike wants to talk about sincerity, he should start by telling President Tinubu to return home and run the country instead of managing affairs via WhatsApp from the Villa.”
Atiku further accused Wike of interfering in the political affairs of Rivers State, the very state he once governed, alleging that Wike is using his federal influence to destabilize the state’s leadership in an attempt to assert full control.
On the issue of the proposed coalition, Atiku maintained that it was made up of patriotic Nigerians who are committed to ending the misrule of the APC. “This coalition is not about individuals it is about rescuing Nigeria. Those involved, including myself, are only instruments to achieve that larger national goal,” he said.
The ongoing feud between Atiku and Wike underscores the growing internal tensions within the PDP and the broader opposition’s struggle to present a united front ahead of the next election cycle.
