Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a stinging attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of political opportunism over his shifting stance on fuel subsidy.
Speaking in Abuja, Wike dismissed Atiku’s recent declaration that he would retain the subsidy if elected president in 2027, pointing out that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate had previously championed its removal.
Atiku had argued that the subsidy regime was riddled with fraud and challenged the Federal Government to disclose how much had been saved since its removal and how those funds had been deployed. But Wike rejected the position, insisting that Atiku was driven solely by electoral ambition.
“Atiku, who is a voodoo economist, will say anything just to become president. This is a man who was prepared to remove fuel subsidy in 2022. Now, in 2026, he says he will not remove it. Is he returning to the very fraud he once condemned?” Wike queried.
The FCT minister emphasised that political leaders must demonstrate consistency, particularly on matters with profound implications for ordinary Nigerians.
“He will say anything to secure the presidency. We must be consistent in the messages we convey to our people,” he added.
Wike also brushed aside suggestions that Atiku ranks among the frontrunners for the 2027 presidential election, asserting that President Bola Tinubu remains the undisputed leading candidate.
“I disagree that Atiku is one of the leading presidential contenders. We have only one leading candidate, and that is Bola Tinubu,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor further declared that opposition parties lack the cohesion and strength to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election, describing the outcome as already foreseeable.