Wike: Atiku sold public assets as vice president and will do the same if elected

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of selling Nigeria’s public assets during his eight-year tenure as vice president, Peoples Gazette reported. Speaking at a rainbow coalition town hall meeting with stakeholders in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday, Wike said: “Atiku Abubakar was vice president for eight years. He was in charge of privatisation. He sold assets belonging to Nigeria.” He warned that Abubakar would sell the country if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar’s Director of Strategic Communications, dismissed the allegation as bogus when contacted. He said: “Atiku is never known to be 419 or Yahoo Yahoo. So he would wake up and sell Nigeria as what”, Shaibu challenged the minister to identify the specific national assets that Abubakar allegedly sold. Wike also defended the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy.