The presidential campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken exception to the vituperative attack launched by the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike on the presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Atiku Abubakar.
Recall that Wike had described Atiku as a “bad product” whose former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, has not found good enough to recommend “for use.”
Wike made the remark following Obasanjo’s endorsement of the presidential standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi.
Wike had stated that Obasanjo’s action clearly makes a telling statement about the character of Atiku, stressing that a bad product is always difficult to sell otherwise, Obasanjo would have endorsed Atiku.
“If you are bad product, you are a bad product, if you are a good product, you are a good product.
“You worked under somebody, the person has recommended to Nigerians another person, is it me?
“I worked with somebody for eight years and we are using it as a campaign that when we were in office we did well, then my boss is recommending another person to be there, something is fundamentally wrong.
“I was praying that Obasanjo should not say anything; when I saw the letter last night I was touched.
“If your principal does not recommend you, then there’s something fundamentally wrong,” he said.
Responding, Atiku’s special assistant on public communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, said in a terse statement entitled ‘Wike’s nonsensical gaffe’ that the governor is a “short tempered man” who “acts foolishly.”
Quoting Proverbs 14:17, Shuaibu said Wike who was once a shining light in his party has thrown caution to the wind and turned into a Tik Tok comedian that is now the laughing stock of many Nigerians.
“Wike dances like a village masquerade on live television, entertaining Nigerians with the same boring moves. He acts like a failed Tik Tok comedian desperately trying to amuse Nigerians with the same platitudes just because he lost the primary…,” Shuaibu added.
The media aide stated if anyone wants to understand the true meaning of bitterness and anger, they should watch out for Wike each time he spends tax payers’ money on his live broadcasts.
The statement reads: “A short tempered man acts foolishly, says Proverbs 14:17 in the Holy Bible. This perhaps explains why a governor who was once a shining light in his party has thrown caution to the wind and has become a laughing stock.
‘Everyday Wike dances like a village masquerade on live television, entertaining Nigerians with the same boring moves. He acts like a failed Tik Tok comedian desperately trying to amuse Nigerians with the same platitudes just because he lost the primary and also failed to emerge as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“His constant weeping is like the blubbering of an infant taken off his mother’s breast. Wike’s cacophonous cry of hurt and inconsolable thrashing will never end even if the proverbial breast is put back in his mouth.
“If you want to understand the true meaning of bitterness and anger watch our dear Governor Wike each time he spends tax payers monies on his live broadcasts. At every turn of event, he comes forth with new episodes of dramatic performances. What is common to all his acts is that his vile verbiage and intemperate vituperations are symptomatic of a pathetically disruptive mind with a deep character flaw.
“In his latest attempt to mock Waziri Atiku Abubakar after Former President Olusegun Obasanjo decided to endorse former Governor Peter Obi, Wike again shot himself in the foot.
“According to the cantankerous and loquacious governor, the decision of Obasanjo to support Obi is evidence that Atiku is unfit for the Presidency.
“Going by Wike’s flawed logic, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s refusal to support his Vice-President, William Ruto, meant that Ruto was unfit for office. The great people of Kenya, however, do not think in a flawed manner like Wike.
“Even in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari did not support Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo despite the fact that Osinbajo had served as acting President for over five months when Buhari was on medical vacation in London.
“If we bring it closer to Rivers State, it means Wike’s deputy is incompetent hence his decision to anoint Siminialayi Fubara, as his successor. In fact Wike’s domineering attitude has made his deputy redundant hence no one even knows who she is.
“What Wike failed to acknowledge during his latest tirade is that Atiku remains the only former Vice-President in the history of Nigeria to ever be publicly endorsed by his principal and this happened in 2019 when Obasanjo decided to support him.
“On the other hand, no one finds Wike worthy of wielding Presidential power, not even his predecessors. Rather than try to repair his damaged reputation, he continues to cry over spilt milk.
“When has the lack of support of an ex-President ever translated to fitness of an office?
“Finally, let me state that, our decorous demeanor belong to us – they are not dictated by whether someone is intemperate towards us. We will hit back if we have to, but GOD forbid that we will ever descend to the level of the gutter that some people live in.
“Wike really needs to grow up and respect the office he holds.”
Meanwhile, Wike has clarified that his comments following Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi were not meant to disparage Atiku.
Speaking during the flag-off of the construction of Mgbuodohia Road in Rumuolumeni Town of Obio-Akpor local government area yesterday, the governor said his reaction was borne out of his from concern for the PDP.
He said Obasanjo had served as president on the platform of the PDP with Atiku as his vice for eight years, hence ideally he should have been in a better position to solicit for support from Nigerians on his behalf with confidence.
Wike noted that by endorsing another candidate other than Atiku, something is fundamentally wrong that should elicit concern by members of PDP.
“I meant no bad. I am only worried as a prominent PDP member. A man who loves PDP should be worried. I was not mocking anybody. I was merely worried.
“My prayer was, look, let Obasanjo remain quiet and not say anything. That was all my prayer, but my prayer didn’t work. My prayer was that if this man makes any statement, it will indict us because he was president under the PDP for eight years, and he worked with our presidential candidate. And the campaign of our presidential council is that our presidential candidate during the eight years did very well, with experience,” he said.
He wondered why Atiku’s men and the party would not look at the issues critically and ponder on what could be done with the seeming wrong but instead began to abuse him (Wike).
“What did I do? I didn’t do anything. All I did was to express concern. If you care for this party, it is for you to go back, and ask what is fundamentally wrong?
“Me that is worried that we should do something and have expressed it, you are abusing me for telling the party that we should do something.”
Wike insisted that it was only those who love the PDP that would be bent on ensuring that nothing untoward happened to it.
He described those abusing him as jobbers and political flirts who jump from one party to another every other day, saying one of them is now a spokesman of the party.
“They are not bothered, but those of us who since 1998 joined this party, contributed for the survival of this party until now, we keep shouting always when we see danger coming.
“Abuses upon abuses, it will not change anything, rather it will spoil more things. What you don’t know, ask people, seek for advise, people will help you to solve the problem,” Wike said.
