The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as a “joint ticket of corruption.”
Wike made the remarks on Monday during town hall interactive meetings with stakeholders and residents of Rumueme and Apara Kingdoms in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The former Rivers governor also dismissed the chances of the ADC presidential ticket in Rivers State, insisting that Atiku and Amaechi would struggle to secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in the state.
Wike criticised Atiku over his recent comments on corruption, recalling former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s past criticisms of the former vice president.
He said it was contradictory for Atiku to campaign against corruption after being accused of the same by his former principal.
“When I saw Atiku on television yesterday, asking Nigerians to take any money given to them by people from the party in power, that it will be stolen money, I said haa, Atiku is now an apostle of anti-corruption?
“The same Atiku that his boss described as corrupt and that one of his major regrets was making him his Vice President is talking,” Wike said.
The minister argued that the inclusion of Amaechi in the opposition coalition had further weakened the ticket, alleging that the former governor’s political record did not support the campaign for accountability being promoted by the opposition.
Wike, however, said his major political focus ahead of the 2027 general election was the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
He urged Rivers residents to support the president, citing what he described as the administration’s developmental projects and appointments involving indigenes of the state.
“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the president’s reelection. When I am eating, I think about the president’s reelection. Everything I am doing now is about the president’s reelection,” he said.
Wike added that Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 would be easier than his victory in 2023.
“I know the reelection of Tinubu in 2027 will be easier that that of 2023. We should appreciate Tinubu and ensure massive votes for him. We can do it,” he said.
The FCT minister also appealed to Rivers residents to ignore what he described as attempts by opposition politicians to deceive the electorate and instead support candidates who, according to him, had demonstrated commitment to the state.
Addressing stakeholders in Rumueme and Apara Kingdoms, Wike cautioned against internal divisions and communal conflicts, urging residents to remain focused on development.
“What will be, will be. You don’t need to kill yourself… Anything that God said would be, it would be,” he said.
Wike also criticised the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, describing him and other opposition politicians as “unelectable” ahead of the 2027 polls.
