Wike: Nigerians Rejected Spent Force Atiku in 2023, He’ll be Too Old to Contest in 2027

* Accuses Bauchi governor of misleading PDP

* Denies pocketing judiciary for political gain

 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, derided former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a spent force, who was rejected outright by Nigerians in the 2023 presidential election.

Wike advised Atiku not to present himself as a candidate in 2027, as he would be too old for the office of the president.

Wike made the assertions yesterday while fielding questions from a panel of journalists on a television programme.

Atiku had lately criticised the policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration, suggesting he is a better alternative in the forthcoming presidential election.

He had also argued that Nigeria would have been a better place if his own economic blueprint was implemented.
But Wike stated regarding Atiku, “Did he not present this (blueprint) to Nigerians? Did Nigerians choose him? No. If you are working for another, the chance won’t be there. Which is your party? At what age? I can boast we can have some family peace.
“You have made a decision. You have presented your blueprint in 2023. Nigerians heard you clear and said, ‘we thank you for this blueprint. It did not work’.

“What do you expect him to say? Not to speak out, not to criticise the government?  Criticism does not mean that the opposition is serious. You people criticise for criticism’ sake, not that you are working for it.”

Wike also rejected the allusion that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed had more stake than him in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He described PDP as a rudderless ship under the leadership of Mohammed, saying, “The party has never had it this bad in terms of leadership, particularly from the chairman of the governors’ forum. And I knew it would be so.

“Let me tell you, leadership is not by mouth, it’s not by talking; it’s by action. If tomorrow… are you going to blame INEC. How do you know how people are treacherous?”

He accused the Bauchi State governor of conniving with others to take away the chairmanship of PDP Governors’ Forum from the south to the north, after former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, chaired the forum.

Wike also questioned Mohammed’s leadership capacity and ability to galvanise the party.

He said, “To be a leader, you must have to make a little sacrifice and have the capacity to galvanise the people. You are an opposition party. People will see that you are serious about taking over power.

“It is not by going to television to talk. It is not by abusing people; it is by how you mobilise your colleagues, by funding the party, to make sure that the party is effective and efficient through the National Working Committee, by funding the party.”

He blasted the Mohammed for thinking he owned PDP, wanting to use the party for his selfish interest, and removing the party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, because he was not doing his bidding.

The FCT minister alleged that it was the Bauchi State governor that insisted at a meeting that Damagum should complete his tenure of five years, before a new chairman was elected and to complete the tenure of Ayu.

Wike also asserted that apart from the drive of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, there was no synergy by PDP to win the governorship election in Ondo State.

He stressed that the party was not putting its house in order because of personal ambition and lack of integrity.

He disclosed that PDP had not contacted him for support for its candidate in the Ondo State governorship election, Agboola Ajayi. He said the PDP candidate had not seen him, and no one had sought his support for him.

The FCT minister rejected accusations that he was building houses for judges in the nation’s capital for the purpose of pocketing the judges for political gains.

He insisted that quarters for judges was a policy of the Tinubu administration to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
The minister said the proposal was approved by the president and sent to the National Assembly in the 2024 budget that there should be construction of judges and justices quarters.

He stated, “A policy anybody should commend Mr President for. It is in the budget of 2024, appropriated by the National Assembly, assented to by Mr President, which is a law. What is the problem?

“I am only the implementer, go and implement this. Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the contract and everything, it is not my policy, how will you now want to kill me that I am implementing what the federal government approved?

“With this, you have tried to remove the judges from political manipulation in our country. Instead of people to commend you from the legal profession.

“To commend you that, look, for the first time, we are seeing a government which now talks about the independence of the judiciary, how would they attain independence?”

Wike also revealed that he would provide security agents in the FCT 50 vehicles to tackle insecurity, and check scavengers, who had constituted a security threat in the FCT.