The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, September 18, criticised former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for what he described as a pattern of political betrayal within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking on Politics Today, Wike said, “What do you mean by leadership and friendship? You cannot talk about leadership and ignore the person.”
He accused the duo of opportunism, adding, “These are people who have been consistently inconsistent. When you are a consistent betrayer, what do you expect?”
Wike also alleged that Tambuwal had ambitions for a Senate seat if Atiku won the presidency and noted that both men often switched parties for personal gain.
Tambuwal, who appeared on the same programme earlier this month, had declared his support for Atiku over Wike.
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“When it comes to leadership of this country and leadership of the people, I would rather support Atiku than Nyesom Wike,” he said, insisting that his decisions were driven by principles rather than personal animosity.
“It is a collaboration; it is not something difficult. Once it is about being altruistic and nothing personal. We disagreed on principle, the way and the direction things were going,” Tambuwal added.
Wike’s criticism stems from lingering disputes within the PDP, dating back to 2023, when he accused Atiku, Tambuwal, and Bukola Saraki of abandoning zoning arrangements that could have favoured the South.
Wike also reminded viewers that he had supported Tambuwal’s bid for Speaker of the House of Representatives, despite the party’s preference.
Despite the political tensions, Tambuwal emphasised that personal loyalty remains intact. “If Atiku comes in here and Wike requests my phone, I will give it to him as a personal friend,” he said.