By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike has described the Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as a known serial loser who is not in tune with the current realities of governance in Nigeria.
Wike stated this to reporters why carrying out a routine inspection of infrastructure projects in Kuje area of Abuja on Thursday.
He dismissed Atiku’s recent criticisms of the President Tinubu-led administration on national television as the desperate cries of a man who cannot accept his political sunset.
“At a certain age, one should be able to look at facts objectively. He lives in the FCT; let him compare the FCT of today to the eight years when he was Vice President.
“We have been in office for less than three years, yet the transformation is clear. Nigerians would laugh at anyone suggesting nothing is being done”, Wike stated bluntly.
Wike further invoked the words of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to discredit Atiku’s credibility.
According to him:”His own boss, President Obasanjo, publicly described him as a failure and questioned his character. Why should I bother replying to someone whose own principal attached the tag of corruption to him?”
The Minister added with a touch of sarcasm that he would “encourage” Atiku to run again in 2027 and 2031, despite the former VP being 82 by then.
“I encourage him to run; it seems that is the only way he stays relevant. But 2027 is not available for him”, he stated.
Addressing allegations from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that he attempted to revoke the license of the Rainbow Event Center in Garki to frustrate their national convention, Wike dismissed the claims as “unfortunate lies” designed to gain public sympathy.
He said:”I don’t even know where Rainbow Event Center is. I have instructed my Chief of Staff to find out who is making these claims. If no interference occurred—and I can tell you it didn’t—appropriate sanctions will be pursued for those spreading falsehoods.”
Wike questioned the timeline provided by the party, noting that a request allegedly submitted on April 7th for a convention on the 14th without follow-up until the eve of the event suggests a premeditated attempt to frame the FCT administration.
The Minister further downplayed the threat of a “mega-opposition” involving figures like Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Nasir El-Rufai. Using his home state of Rivers as an example, he mocked the idea of the ADC or other parties dislodging the current power structure.
He adds:”They say El-Rufai and Obi are there, so it is a strong opposition. Watch and see; the PDP will still be stronger than the ADC.
“In the last FCT elections, the ADC couldn’t even win a single councillorship. How do they intend to win the country?”
Wike concluded by advising opposition parties to focus on “dressing their own beds” rather than making “noise” on television.
”As you make your bed, so you must lie on it. They didn’t dress their bed, and now they want to blame the Minister for their discomfort”, the Minister stated.