Wike to Atiku: Stop playing anti-corruption Apostle

Quick Read

“When I saw Atiku on television yesterday, asking Nigerians to take any money given to them by people from the party in power, saying that it will be stolen money, I said, ‘Haa, Atiku is now an apostle of anti-corruption?’” Wike said.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a fresh swipe at Atiku Abubakar, questioning the former vice president’s attempt to present himself as an anti-corruption voice ahead of the 2027 election.

Wike spoke on Monday during a town hall meeting with the Rumueme and Apara kingdoms in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

His attack followed Atiku’s advice to Nigerians to collect money offered by members of the ruling party during the election, describing such funds as stolen money.

Wike mocked the remark, saying Atiku lacked the moral standing to preach against corruption.

“When I saw Atiku on television yesterday, asking Nigerians to take any money given to them by people from the party in power, saying that it will be stolen money, I said, ‘Haa, Atiku is now an apostle of anti-corruption?’” Wike said.

He went on to describe the ADC presidential ticket of Atiku and his running mate, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, as a “joint ticket of corruption.”

“ADC’s Atiku-Amaechi ticket is a joint ticket of corruption,” he said.

Wike also invoked former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s past criticism of Atiku, who served as his vice president between 1999 and 2007.

“The same Atiku whose boss described him as corrupt and said one of his major regrets was making him vice president is talking,” Wike said.

The FCT minister also dismissed the chances of the Atiku-Amaechi ticket in Rivers State, insisting that the ADC would struggle to secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in the state.