Wike Accuses Atiku Of Selling Nigeria’s Assets, Warns Against His 2027 Presidential Bid

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of overseeing the sale of Nigeria’s public assets during his eight years in office, warning that he could sell the country if elected president in 2027.

Wike made the remarks on Friday, November 6, during a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The minister questioned the outcome of the privatisation programme undertaken during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when Atiku served as vice-president and chaired the National Council on Privatisation.

“Atiku Abubakar was vice-president for eight years. He was in charge of privatisation. He sold assets belonging to Nigeria.

“Now ask him, what happened to all the government companies that he sold? Ask him,” Wike told the gathering.

He further questioned Atiku’s political consistency, describing him as a political gambler whose repeated attempts to become president raised concerns about his suitability for the country’s highest political office.

Wike argued that electing the former vice-president could result in him prioritising the recovery of money allegedly spent on his successive presidential campaigns rather than addressing the needs of Nigerians.

“He will sell Nigeria to recover all what he has spent since he has been contesting for President. He is not a man that you can take his word to the bank. What he says in the morning is not what he’ll say in the afternoon,” he said.

“Therefore, you cannot put your destiny in the hand of a political gambler.”

The FCT minister also used the gathering to defend President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy.

He argued that the policy had increased revenue allocations to state and local governments, giving the different tiers of government greater financial capacity to meet their obligations.

Although acknowledging the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, Wike maintained that increased allocations had helped governments address challenges involving unpaid salaries and pension arrears.

He urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the Tinubu administration, arguing that its economic reforms required time to deliver their intended benefits.

Wike also cited developments in the education sector, particularly industrial disputes involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in making his case for the administration.

Atiku served as vice-president between 1999 and 2007 under Obasanjo and chaired the National Council on Privatisation, the body responsible for overseeing the Federal Government’s privatisation and commercialisation programme.

The council operated through the Bureau of Public Enterprises, which implemented the programme involving government-owned enterprises.

Wike’s remarks come amid political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the FCT minister mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election through the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State.