Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has admitted that the conduct of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike showed why he was not chosen as the vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

In a statement released on Saturday, Atiku’s media office stressed that leadership is about more than just votes. The camp of the former vice president was responding to a press statement from Wike’s camp, which was issued by his aide, Lere Olayinka.

“We understand that bitterness often leads to misplaced aggression. But we remind Mr. Wike and his team that a bitter heart cannot bring unity, healing, or truth,” the statement said.

It accused Wike’s camp of twisting facts, particularly regarding the selection process for the vice-presidential candidate. It noted that Wike, through his spokesperson, claimed to have received 13 votes from the committee set up to recommend a running mate, while Ifeanyi Okowa had only two. However, Atiku’s media office clarified, “There are no strict rules on how a running mate is selected. Committees, consultations, and recommendations are only advisory. The final decision belongs solely to the presidential candidate.”

The statement further argued that even if Wike had more votes, his character made him unsuitable for the role. “Leadership is not only about numbers. It is about temperament, dignity, and the ability to unite people. A person may have the most votes, but if they lack grace and humility, those votes mean nothing.”

The statement added, “We have been vindicated by Mr. Wike’s public conduct in Rivers state where he once served as governor and in Abuja since becoming FCT Minister, which has made it abundantly clear why he was unsuitable for the role of Vice President in a ticket meant to unify, not divide.

We urge Mr. Wike and his social media spokesperson to resist the temptation to sermonize about religious piety during Ramadan and Lent, too, while simultaneously fanning the flames of discord. Let us not reduce sacred periods to a tool for petty political jabs.

The task of rebuilding our party and our nation is a serious one. It is time to move beyond bruised egos and focus on what truly matters: the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its people!”

Olayinka, Wike’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, had earlier challenged Atiku’s claim that Okowa was chosen based on consultations with the party.

During an interview on Untold Stories with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, Atiku said he allowed the party to advise him on selecting a running mate and that Wike was not the top recommendation.

However, Olayinka released a document titled Report of the Advisory Committee for the Selection of Presidential Running Mate, which revealed that Wike was preferred as the top choice.

Olayinka accused Atiku of misrepresenting the truth, even during Ramadan. “How can a committee select someone with two votes over someone with 13 votes?” he asked.

“The PDP committee picked Wike, but Atiku chose Okowa for reasons only he knows. Instead of twisting the truth, he should admit his decision.”