Atiku Will Sell Nigeria To Recover Money Spent On Presidential Ambition – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as a political gambler, accusing him of selling Nigeria’s assets during his time in office.

Wike warned Nigerians against entrusting the country’s leadership to Atiku, alleging that the former vice-president would dispose of national assets to recoup the money he had spent on his repeated presidential campaigns.

The minister made the remarks on Friday during a Rainbow Coalition town hall meeting with stakeholders in Asari-Toru local government area of Rivers State.

He urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that its economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, had improved revenue allocations to state and local governments.

Although he acknowledged the economic difficulties confronting citizens, Wike maintained that increased allocations to the sub-national governments had helped them meet obligations such as the payment of salaries and outstanding pensions.

Taking aim at Atiku’s record in government, the FCT minister questioned the outcome of the privatisation exercise conducted when the former vice-president served under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“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 told the gathering.

He further accused Atiku of lacking political consistency, noting that the former vice-president had repeatedly contested for the presidency.

According to Wike, Nigerians cannot trust a politician whose positions, he alleged, change depending on the circumstances.

“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.

“Therefore, you cannot put your destiny in the hand of a political gambler,” he said.

Wike also called on Nigerians to remain patient with the Tinubu administration, insisting that its policies would produce long-term benefits.

He cited the absence of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the past three years as one of the gains of the current administration, urging citizens to consider what he described as improvements in governance before making political choices.