Atiku: I’ve Been Vindicated For Not Choosing Wike As Running Mate In 2023

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has made a volte-face on why he rejected the former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking during a previous interview, Atiku said he picked a former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, because the ex-Delta governor was the first choice of a 17-member selection committee.

The committee was set up by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Atiku’s request for the purposes of screening and recommending a running mate for the party’s presidential ticket.

However, the Wike camp had exposed the lie in Atiku’s claim by releasing the result of the screening committee, where the majority of the members chose Wike above Okowa.

A media aide to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, who released the result, had mocked Atiku for lying during Ramadan, an action considered a sin and an impediment to a Muslim’s prayer and supplication.

In a statement on Saturday by his media office, Atiku said he had no apologies for choosing Okowa as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

The statement said, “We make no apologies for choosing Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate in 2023. That decision was based on a combination of intellect, composure, and statesmanship.

“We have been vindicated by Mr. Wike’s public conduct in Rivers State, where he once served as governor, and in Abuja since becoming FCT Minister, which has made it abundantly clear why he was unsuitable for the role of Vice President in a ticket meant to unify, not divide.

“We urge Mr. Wike and his social media spokesperson to resist the temptation to sermonise about religious piety during Ramadan and Lent, too, while simultaneously fanning the flames of discord. Let us not reduce sacred periods to a tool for petty political jabs.

“The task of rebuilding our party and our nation is a serious one. It is time to move beyond bruised egos and focus on what truly matters: the future of Nigeria and the well-being of its people!