Wike claimed that Atiku suddenly does not know the way to his (Wike’s) house any longer despite coming to ask for support before the primary.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused his party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of peddling lies against him.
Wike said on Friday at the Port Harcourt International Airport shortly after he returned from a foreign trip that he will reply Atiku’s “attack dogs” one by one in due time.
Lamenting what he called Atiku’s untruths at a recent interview with Arise Television, Wike said: “He (Atiku) appeared before Arise Television, see the statements he made. So many lies were told.”
In the July 22 interview, Atiku had said that he did not pick Wike as his running mate for next year’s election because he wanted someone he could work with “amicably”.
“Governor Wike was not rejected. Nobody was rejected in the party. But you must understand that it’s the prerogative of the candidate to pick his running mate — a running mate he believes he can work with amicably, and then also deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country,” he said.
Atiku also said he opted for Okowa instead of Wike because he wanted someone that could “deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country.”
The PDP presidential candidate praised Wike as a courageous and brilliant politician who has a future in Nigerian politics.
“Governor Wike is a brilliant politician. He’s courageous, tenacious,” Atiku said.
“I believe he has a future in the political evolution of this country. It’s not a question of rejection. Certainly, not. I think it’s too harsh a word to say that we rejected governor Wike. Certainly not.”
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Wike and Atiku have been at loggerheads since the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party. The crisis began after Atiku ignored the recommendation of some governors for him to pick Wike as his running mate.
But speaking on Friday, Weke said, “I have decided to be quiet because PDP is a party I love so much. I have moved on to conclude my social contract with the people of Rivers. However, it is time to let Nigerians know the truth.”
The governor added that posterity will not forgive him should he fail to set the record straight.
He however promised to clear the air after the commissioning of the projects lined up for inauguration by the state government.
Wike noted that Atiku is yet to send any delegation to him for reconciliation.
He, however, said former Senate President Bukola Saraki met with him in Spain, although in his personal capacity.
Wike claimed that Atiku suddenly does not know the way to his (Wike’s) house any longer despite coming to ask for support before the primary.
