- Wike: “Park And Go Home”, Nigerians Have Rejected You
- Atiku’s Spokesman: You’re A Sore Loser, Keep Spewing “String Of Inanities”
By Kolawole Ojebisi
Spokesperson to Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in the 2023 Presidential elections, Mr Paul Ibe and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike are currently locked in a fiery war of words.
Wike, who first took a swipe at Atiku calling him a perennial contestant for Nigeria’s presidential seat said the later
has failed severally.
The Minister spoke on Saturday during a luncheon he hosted in honour of factional members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to him in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.
Wike said he and his loyalists did not taste defeat in the Rivers State local government elections as they didn’t participate in the election, noting that Atiku should be the one worrying over how his fate at the polls has been that of perpetual defeat.
He said: “We never contested LGA elections. Did we pick form? I heard Atiku Abubakar said they have rejected me in Rivers state.”
Wike added: “Assuming not conceding, he has lost so many times that Nigerians have also rejected him.
“If you say that an election we did not contest or participate in shows that Nigerians have rejected us, it is okay; you that contested and failed woefully, Nigerians have rejected you (Atiku); therefore, park and go home.”
Recall that on October 5, Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted council elections in the 23 LGAs amidst feud between Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers Governor. The move polarized the State into both pro-Fubara and Pro-Wike groups.
With the LGA elections over and Action Peoples Party (APP) declared the winner in 22 of the 23 LGAs, while the Action Alliance (AA) won in one local government, former vice-president Atiku had declared that the outcome of the Rivers LGA elections depicted the rejection of political oppression and godfatherism in the state. Abubakar’s comments was seen by Wike as a veiled attack on him given ongoing internal wranglings plaguing the PDP.
Wike reacted, criticizing Atiku as a perennial loser of presidential bid.
However, in a swift reaction to Wike’s taunt, the Special Adviser to the former Vice-President on Media and Publicity , Mr Paul Ibe, described the Minister’s comments as another “theatrical outburst”
Ibe noted that Wike is still reeling from the punk punched Atiku dealt him which culminated in his ignominious defeat at PDP presidential primaries in 2022.
He stressed that Wike is a sore loser who can’t rise above the defeat hence the bitterness, reflected in the “string of inanities”, he harbours against Atiku.
“Ordinarily, we would not respond, but we recognize that silence might be misinterpreted,” the statement reads.
“However, we remain calm, knowing that Nigerians are well acquainted with his antics, a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat to the Wazirin Adamawa at the 2022 party presidential primaries.
“Mr. Wike’s comments are nothing more than a string of inanities, lacking substance, and driven by personal grievances.
“If he truly believes Nigerians are content with the current state of affairs under the government he serves, it reveals a deeper truth: his priorities lie not with the people but with himself. This self-absorption is evident in his preoccupation with domestic affairs in Rivers rather than his ministerial responsibilities.” Ibe added.
Ibe said Wike’s comments are “baseless rants” crafted to divert attention from the real challenges faced by citizens, adding that Abubakar remains focused on the welfare and progress of the people.
