The recent claims made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State seeking the vice-presidential slot in the 2023 general elections have been categorically refuted by the spokesperson for the former governor, Lere Olayinka. According to Olayinka, Atiku's assertion is false, and there is no truth to the claim that Governor Wike ever sought to be his running mate during the last election cycle.
In a strongly worded statement, Olayinka explained that the narrative being pushed by Atiku is a deliberate distortion of facts and an attempt to rewrite history. He emphasized that Governor Wike never expressed any interest in being Atiku’s running mate, either in private or through official channels.
"Governor Wike was fully committed to the political realities of the time and was focused on ensuring the victory of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections. To suggest that he was vying for the vice-presidential slot is not only misleading but an outright lie,” Olayinka said.
Lere Olayinka further clarified that Governor Wike's commitment to the PDP and his role in supporting Atiku’s presidential campaign were driven by the desire to strengthen the party and deliver good governance to the people of Nigeria. He stressed that Wike’s political decisions were made with the broader interests of the nation at heart, and any insinuations to the contrary were fabricated.
"Atiku's recent comments are nothing but an attempt to sow division and confusion within the ranks of the party. The truth remains that Wike was focused on his duties as a governor and had no intentions of taking on a vice-presidential role in the 2023 election," Olayinka asserted.