The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned Nigerians against voting for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election, questioning his record in public office.
Wike made the remarks on Friday while addressing political stakeholders at a town hall meeting organised by the Rainbow Coalition in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The FCT minister criticised Atiku’s eight-year tenure as vice president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, particularly his role in the administration’s privatisation programme.
He accused the former vice president of overseeing the sale of several government-owned companies and national assets, challenging him to account for what happened to the enterprises after their disposal.
According to Wike, Nigerians should demand explanations from Atiku over the privatisation exercise before considering him for the country’s highest political office.
He said, “Atiku Abubakar was vice president for eight years. He was in charge of privatisation. He sold assets belonging to Nigeria. Now ask him, what happened to all the government companies that he sold? Ask him.”
Wike further questioned Atiku’s credibility, alleging that the former vice president had been inconsistent in his political positions and promises.
He also claimed that Atiku’s repeated attempts to become president raised concerns about his motivations for seeking the office.
The minister said, “He will sell Nigeria to recover all what he has spent since he has been contesting for President. He is not a man that you can take his word to the bank. What he says in the morning is not what he’ll say in the afternoon.”
Warning Nigerians against supporting the ADC presidential candidate, Wike described him as a political gambler whose leadership, he argued, could put the country’s future at risk.
“Therefore, you cannot put your destiny in the hand of a political gambler,” he added.
Atiku, who served as vice president between 1999 and 2007, is seeking the presidency again ahead of the 2027 general elections on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
