The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has questioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s record in office, urging Nigerians to scrutinise his performance in government as he pursues another presidential bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike also criticised the entry of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi into the African Democratic Congress (ADC), arguing that it had complicated the party’s presidential ticket and raising questions about its ability to offer a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu.
The minister spoke on Thursday at a Rainbow Coalition meeting in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he challenged Atiku to account for his eight years as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
Wike, who said he had contested a presidential primary against Atiku, questioned the impact of the former vice-president’s tenure, particularly his role in the Federal Government’s privatisation programme.
“Atiku was vice-president from 1999 to 2007. How many years? He was not just a vice-president but a very powerful vice-president. He was in charge of privatisation and everything concerning companies and industries owned by the government,” Wike said.
He urged Nigerians to assess Atiku’s record in public office rather than focus solely on his repeated attempts to become president.
“Can anybody tell me, do you see the impact of Atiku Abubakar? No!” he asked.
Wike also referred to Obasanjo’s past criticism of his former deputy, citing the former president’s reported expression of regret over supporting Atiku’s emergence as vice-president.
The FCT minister argued that Obasanjo’s assessment of their political relationship should form part of the debate about Atiku’s record and renewed presidential ambition.
He urged political stakeholders to examine the records of presidential aspirants objectively, rather than allow emotions or political affiliations to influence their decisions.
Wike also questioned the suitability of presenting Atiku and Amaechi as a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 elections, citing projects and financial transactions during Amaechi’s eight-year tenure as Rivers State governor from 2007 to 2015.
He questioned the expenditure of 10 million dollars on a mosquito-control programme, 39 million dollars on a proposed specialist hospital and 68 billion naira on a monorail project, demanding explanations about the outcomes of the initiatives.
The minister also raised questions about the proceeds from the reported sale of a gas turbine in December 2014, which he put at 308 million dollars.
“Where are the 308 million dollars? Where are the 39 million dollars? Where is the 68 billion naira? And where is the 10 million dollars for fumigation?” Wike asked, challenging the former governor to account for the transactions.
The allegations were made by Wike at the political gathering and were not independently verified in the information available for this report.
He maintained that Nigerians should assess the records, promises and performance of political aspirants before entrusting them with higher responsibilities, stressing the importance of accountability in leadership.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Zonal Director of the Post Primary Schools Board, Chimereze Nworgo, said the people of Ogbia Local Government Area had not forgotten the security and infrastructure interventions associated with Wike’s tenure as Rivers State governor.
Nworgo cited the construction of the Ogbia-Nembe Road, improved connectivity, the establishment of a model secondary school and recognition of traditional institutions as some of the interventions appreciated by the community.
He also commended Wike for supporting the political representation of Ogbia indigenes at the national level, including Ambassador Desmond Eji Akawu.
While reaffirming the community’s political support for Wike, Nworgo appealed for further interventions in road construction and rehabilitation, the provision of a general hospital, the renovation of dilapidated schools, youth employment and empowerment, and more political appointments for Ogbia indigenes at state and federal levels.
He said the community’s endorsement did not mean that all its development needs had been met, but reflected its willingness to sustain engagement with Wike in pursuit of its aspirations.
In a related development, the Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Okechukwu Akara Nwaogu, presented a gift to Wike on behalf of the council in recognition of his position as FCT minister and leader of the Rainbow Coalition.
