Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of being a traitor working to undermine the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and harm Nigerians’ interests.
This comes after Wike questioned the sincerity of the coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, led by Atiku, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai.
Wike had claimed that those seeking a coalition are driven by selfish interests, particularly the ambition to become president.
“Everybody wants to become president of the country. Nobody wants to say, ‘Look, let me build our party so that at the end of the day our party will be in a formidable position as an opposition party to take over power,’” Wike made the statement on Friday on a TVC programme, as monitored by SaharaReporters.
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, responded, stating that Wike lacks moral authority due to his alleged betrayal of the PDP.
Atiku emphasised that the coalition involves genuine Nigerians committed to ending the APC’s governance style.
“Wike is not in a position to talk about sincerity. This is a man who betrayed his party, a man working with the APC to destroy and undermine his own party and the interests of Nigerians. So, what does he know about sincerity? Nothing.”
“If he wants to speak on sincerity, let him talk to his principal, Tinubu, an absentee President running government from the Presidential Villa’s WhatsApp group. Wike should be sincere to President Tinubu to return home and do his job.
“Wike is not in a position to talk to anybody. Wike is working against his own state where he was once governor. He is trying to ensure he has absolute control of the government in Rivers, working in cahoots with Abuja to get the governor suspended. It is unfortunate that they just open their filthy mouths and speak on things they know nothing about.
“As for the coalition, the sincere Nigerians are determined to end the reckless, irresponsible, clueless APC government. Nigerians want to reclaim their country. The coalition presents Nigerians with a vehicle. Atiku Abubakar and others who are involved in it are just tools to an end. This is about Nigeria.”
CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ahmeh, on his part described Wike as someone who shouldn’t be taken seriously, accusing him of serving APC interests and working against Nigerians’ interests.
