The senior special assistant on public communications and social media to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Lere Olayinka, has described as false, the assertion by former vice president Atiku Abubakar that the committee established by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ranked Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as its top choice for vice presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
He expressed disappointment that Atiku would choose to make such claims during the holy month of Ramadan.
“I told the party to set up a committee to recommend three names. The committee ranked Okowa as the top choice, with Wike in second place and former Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel, in third. So I picked number one,” Atiku had said.
In response, Olayinka issued a statement yesterday said, “Wike never put himself forward to be Atiku’s running mate; Atiku did by himself, and he accepted his offer with conditions.”
He emphasised that according to the committee report, Wike received 13 votes compared to Okowa’s two.
“The committee set up by the PDP picked Wike as Atiku’s running mate, but for reasons best known to him, he settled for Okowa who had two votes from the committee members. That is the truth Atiku should tell and stand with, not trying to colour his decision with falsehood.
“Unfortunately, Atiku chose to tell lies so brazenly during the holy month of Ramadan, obviously forgetting that Allah (SWT) does not hearken to the prayers of liars, which might explain his continued failures in his desperate quest to become president of Nigeria,” he said.
