Wike had mocked Atiku for being sidelined by his former boss, Obasanjo, to endorse the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Obi.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has scolded the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for claiming that his (Atiku's) boss and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had a problem with him (Atiku) and therefore failed to endorse his presidential bid.
Speaking through Phrank Shaibu, his Special Assistant on Public Communication for the 2023 general elections, Atiku described Wike's comment on Obasanjo's endorsement of Peter Obi as a nonsensical gaffe, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari also failed to endorse his “loyal” deputy, Yemi Osinbajo for president during the All Progressives Congress presidential primary.
Wike had mocked Atiku for being sidelined by his former boss, Obasanjo, to endorse the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Obi.
Reacting to Governor Wike's reported mockery, Shaibu described the PDP G-5 governors frontier as "A short tempered man acts foolishly."
According to him in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Shaibu said "This perhaps explains why a governor who was once a shining light in his party has thrown caution to the wind and has become a laughing stock."
He stated that "If you want to understand the true meaning of bitterness and anger, watch our dear Governor Wike each time he spends taxpayers monies on his live broadcasts. At every turn of event, he comes forth with new episodes of dramatic performances. What is common to all his acts is that his vile verbiage and intemperate vituperations are symptomatic of a pathetically disruptive mind with a deep character flaw.
"In his latest attempt to mock Waziri Atiku Abubakar after Former President Olusegun Obasanjo decided to endorse former Governor Peter Obi, Wike again shot himself in the foot.
"According to the cantankerous and loquacious governor, the decision of Obasanjo to support Obi is evidence that Atiku is unfit for the Presidency.
"Going by Wike’s flawed logic, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s refusal to support his Vice-President, William Ruto, meant that Ruto was unfit for office. The great people of Kenya, however, do not think in a flawed manner like Wike.
"Even in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari did not support Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo despite the fact that Osinbajo had served as acting President for over five months when Buhari was on medical vacation in London.
"If we bring it closer to Rivers State, it means Wike’s deputy is incompetent hence his decision to anoint Siminialayi Fubara, as his successor. In fact Wike’s domineering attitude has made his deputy redundant hence no one even knows who she is.
"What Wike failed to acknowledge during his latest tirade is that Atiku remains the only former Vice-President in the history of Nigeria to ever be publicly endorsed by his principal and this happened in 2019 when Obasanjo decided to support him.
"On the other hand, no one finds Wike worthy of wielding Presidential power, not even his predecessors. Rather than try to repair his damaged reputation, he continues to cry over spilt milk.
"When has the lack of support of an ex-President ever translated to the fitness of an office?
"Finally, let me state that our decorous demeanor belongs to us - they are not dictated by whether someone is intemperate towards us. We will hit back if we have to, but GOD forbid that we will ever descend to the level of the gutter that some people live in.
"Wike really needs to grow up and respect the office he holds."