The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as a “serial failure,” insisting the 2027 presidential race is not available to him.
Wike, who was reacting to comments by Atiku on national television where the former Vice President claimed the current administration was not doing enough for Nigerians, noted that the remarks did not reflect the realities of development across the country.
He added that opposition to the current administration must be grounded in fairness and honesty, saying Nigerians were witnesses to the changes taking place, especially in the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister, while fielding questions from journalists after inspecting ongoing works along the Airport-Kuje and Kuje-Gwagwalada road, said Atiku’s criticisms were inconsistent with his own performance while in office.
“What do you expect to hear? Atiku is a serial failure, and that’s why we say that there is a certain age you will reach in life, you will be able to say, look, at my level, this government has done well in this area, this government has not done well in this area. But it will be very, very wrong, and Nigerians would be laughing at such a person making that kind of statement that nothing has been done.”
Wike questioned why Atiku would speak on national performance when, according to him, those who worked closely with him in the past had already publicly raised questions about his conduct.
“You remember his boss, President Obasanjo, came out and said, look, look, look, this is my Vice President, he is a complete failure. He even went as far as saying as far as conscience is concerned, that is his second name. So why would I reply? Why would somebody whose boss has attached corruption to him be the one to say that nothing is happening in this government?”
The minister confidently declared that the 2027 race was out of Atiku’s reach, stating that, “He won’t win. There is no need of talking about if he becomes President, he would not be President. And remember, when he gets to 82 years, he will still run. Even though he has said that this will be the last time. I encourage him to run again because that is the only way he can survive, is by running.”
He also dismissed Atiku’s claim of being more popular than other political figures, including Rabiu Kwankwaso and Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of creating internal problems for his party.
“One of the things I read, he said, look, he is more popular than Kwankwaso, he is more popular than El-rufai, he is more popular than Tambuwal and you can imagine that. Tomorrow now, he will say that other parties are the ones causing problems for his party.”
On the controversy surrounding the African Democratic Congress, ADC, convention venue, Wike denied claims that the FCT Administration blocked the party from accessing facilities.
According to him, no request was submitted to his office.
“Somebody went on national television yesterday to tell Nigerians that they applied and the Minister refused. I said who is the Minister? Who applied? I told my Chief of Staff to find out if any request came. None. Somebody will sit down and be telling lies for sympathy.”
The minister also took a swipe at former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, saying he lacked the capacity to deliver the state politically to the ADC or any other party.
“In 2015, he said he would deliver Rivers. Did he deliver? In 2019, he said he would deliver. Did he deliver? Even his own senatorial district, did he deliver? So how will he deliver Rivers State to ADC?”
Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the inspected projects, noting that contractors had maintained timelines. He said the administration would continue to push for the completion of priority infrastructure regardless of the political season.
“Nigerians are happy with what we are doing,” he said.
