On the current standoff with Wike, Atiku said: “We are reaching out to Wike and talking to him, very soon, we will resolve our internal crises.”
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, finally sat for an interview, although prerecorded, after scathing criticisms by Nigerians that he doesn’t engage.
In the interview with Arise Television Breakfast Show crew excluding Rufai Oseni whom many say has the reputation for asking the tough questions, Atiku addressed wide range of issues including the economy, insecurity, his chances at the poll, and those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and the Labour Party standard bearer, Peter Obi.
On President Muhammadu Buhari’s lopsided appointments, Atiku said: “First and foremost, you have to give every part of this country a sense of belonging…we have 17 security outfits in this country and all of them being headed by one section of the country, that’s a very serious imbalance.”
He spoke about Tinubu, his long time friend whose presidential interest now clashes with his. He said: “My fundamental disagreement with Asiwaju since 2007 was on the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, which led to my political departure from him.”
Recall that Atiku contested the 2007 presidential election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) formed by Tinubu after he (Tinubu) fell out with the leadership of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
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When asked about the threat posed by Peter Obi with his Obidient movement, he said: “It will take a miracle for Labour Party with no structure in the grassroots to win the presidency. In the north 90% of our people are not in tune to Social media.”
On his choice of Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate, and his rejection of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Atiku said: “I didn’t reject Wike. I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious . Going by history, I had picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo for 2023.
“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”
Admitting that some members were not happy with his vice presidential candidate pick, particularly Wike, Atiku said, “We are reaching out to Wike and talking to him, very soon, we will resolve our internal crises.”