The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has questioned the credibility of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing him as inconsistent in his political dealings.
Wike also criticised former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, over an alleged $10m anti-malaria fumigation project during his administration, questioning its effectiveness in tackling malaria in the state.
The minister spoke at the official unveiling of the Rainbow Coalition candidates in Rivers State, where he reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu and criticised the political ambitions of opposition figures.
Referring to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Atiku’s reported presidential ambition, Wike asked the gathering: “Now we are talking about ADC. Who wants to run as president under ADC? Our Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Do you know him?, I pray you never know him.”
Wike, who recalled participating in the PDP presidential primaries with Atiku in 2022, said he had known the former vice president since 2019 and supported his presidential campaign.
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“I ran together with him in 2022 presidential primaries. I have known him in 2019. I was one of the biggest sponsors for that presidential election,” he said.
He questioned Atiku’s reliability, saying, “He’s not a man that you can go to the bank with his words. He tells you one thing in the morning, he tells you another thing in the afternoon. He tells you another thing in the evening, the next morning he tells you a different thing. Is he the man you will follow?”
On power rotation between the North and South, Wike recalled how some politicians had insisted that the principle must be respected during the 2015 presidential election.
He referred to the position taken by some political leaders, including former Rivers governor Amaechi, in opposing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid on the grounds that power should return to the North.
According to Wike, Senator Magnus Abe had questioned the consistency of those who previously defended the arrangement.
“Now Magnus has asked him a question, what has now happened? Are you not going to stand for the same principle? We are not surprised,” Wike said.
He added, “Knowing your records, you say one thing today, you say another thing tomorrow. No wonder you will be the vice presidential candidate of the same presidential candidate who says one thing in the morning and says another thing in the afternoon.”
Wike also questioned the political combination involving Atiku and Amaechi, arguing that the latter’s reported position on the ticket would compound its challenges.
“As bad as Atiku’s ticket is, attaching Rotimi Amaechi as the vice worsened it,” he said.
Turning to Amaechi’s record as Rivers governor between 2007 and 2015, Wike recalled an alleged promise to eliminate malaria through a fumigation exercise.
“He told us in this state that he will make sure he cures malaria, He said as far as he’s concerned, that there will no longer be malaria in Rivers State. Is that correct? Are you not still suffering from malaria today? Is mosquito not biting you?” he asked.
Wike argued that fumigating Rivers State alone would not prevent mosquitoes from entering from neighbouring states.
“This is a state that has boundaries with Imo, with Abia, with Bayelsa. If you fumigate Rivers State, will you fumigate Bayelsa? Will you fumigate Imo State? Will you fumigate Abia? So mosquitoes will still come from those areas,” he said.
The minister alleged that $10m was spent on the project, claiming that residents continued to experience mosquito bites despite the expenditure.
“He paid out 10 million US dollars which is 14 billion naira for malaria not to bite you. Up till now, we are still having mosquito bite.
“If you allow him to be vice president, will he fumigate Nigeria too? Will he fumigate Nigeria so that there will be no mosquito bites?” he asked.
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