Tambuwal: I will always support Atiku for presidency over Wike

Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto, has revealed that he would always choose Atiku over Wike for Nigerian presidency although the FCT minister is his friend.

Tambuwal made this statement on Friday during the Politics Today program on Channels TV, while refuting claims that he betrayed the ex- Rivers governor in 2022.

In 2022, Tambuwal withdrew from the presidential race to throw his weight behind Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president.

The decision ended up being a major determinant in the primaries as Atiku Abubakar polled 371 votes while Wike, then governor of Rivers and Atiku’s closest challenger, secured 237 votes.

Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP national chairman at the time, described the former Sokoto governor as the “hero” of the party’s national convention.

Political analysts believed it was an act of betrayal towards the ex-River state governor and would cause a damage to their relationship.

Tambuwal, however, has refuted such accusations. He believed betrayal can only be claimed if both parties have an agreement and he goes against it but nothing of such happened in the build-up to 2023 elections.

“I have nothing against Wike, I did not betray anybody. It is when you have an understanding with somebody and you go against it that you betray the person,” he said.

He also stressed that said his relationship with Wike remains cordial, mentioning that his presidential ambition was ling established before Wike joined the race.

“I was also running; he met me in the race. I was running for president of Nigeria. I was in from 2012/2013.

“My friend Nyesom Wike was not then. I was in the political calculus of Nigeria for the presidency of Nigeria since then.

“He (Wike) joined for the presidency of Nigeria in 2022, so who met who in the race?” he asked.

The former governor of Sokoto reiterated that Wike was aware of his ambition before declaring his interest and as such cannot claim that he was betrayed.

“He gave me the indication, but he met me in the race. He knew that I was running,” Tambuwal added.

Tambuwal acknowledged his friendship with Wike over Atiku but insisted that he would always support the ex- vice president over the FCT minister, meaning that he’d choose competence over friendship.

“If Atiku comes in here today and Wike comes in here and requests for this my phone, my personal phone, I will give it to Wike because he is my friend.

”Even tomorrow, I would rather support Atiku instead of Nyesom Wike for the leadership of this country,” he added.