Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on public communications and social media to Nyesom Wike, minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has said former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar lied about how his running mate for 2023 presidential election was chosen.
Gatekeepers News reports that Olayinka in a statement on Sunday, said Wike was never interested in being Atiku’s deputy, adding that Atiku ignored recommendation of PDP committee and instead selected Ifeanyi Okowa, former Delta State Governor, based on personal preference.
In June 2022, Atiku announced Okowa as his vice-presidential candidate despite earlier rumors that Wike, who finished second at the party’s primary, might be chosen.
In a recent interview, the former vice-president said he has no regrets about the choice of his running mate, adding that he followed the decision of PDP stakeholders in picking Okowa.
Olayinka however, said Abubakar’s claim is face-saving and an attempt to use further lies to defend his previous lies, adding that Wike had no regrets about working against Abubakar in the 2023 election.
He said, “By saying that ‘there were no laid-down rules or laws on the selection process of a running mate… the final decision rests solely and exclusively with the presidential candidate,’ Atiku’s media office has confirmed that their principal actually lied and never had any regard for the PDP as a party.”
“It is also to be reiterated that just as Atiku, the loser in the election, has said he has no regret over the choice he made, Wike too has no regret over his choice.”
“Therefore, no one is harbouring any personal ill-feelings against Atiku for failing with the choice he made, and no one should also harbour ill-feeling against Wike for succeeding with the choice he made.”
“Also, as for us, no ego is bruised, no bitterness too. Just a clear case of we making our choice and you making your own choice. But more than two years after, you are now trying to defend your own choice of failure with lies.”
Olayinka further questioned Abubakar’s current political standing, urging him to clarify his party affiliation before talking about rebuilding the PDP.
He said, “It is necessary for Atiku to first come clear as to which party he belongs now because PDP has not formed a coalition with any political party.”
The FCT minister’s aide said Atiku’s repeated bids for the presidency under different platforms had remained the PDP’s “major albatross.”
