The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, has lambasted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP. ).
Olayinka, speaking on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, did not mince words in describing Atiku’s exit from the PDP as “good riddance to bad rubbish,” adding that his departure could serve as a cleansing moment for the opposition party.
Olayinka labelled Atiku a “serial defector” who has persistently weakened the PDP to further his own presidential ambitions. “My first reaction? Good riddance to bad rubbish. In fact, the headline should read: ‘Atiku Leaves PDP Again,’ because this is his pattern since 2007. He is the rotten apple that has infected the basket,” he declared.
He accused Atiku of positioning himself as a deliberate tool of destabilisation within the party, citing past betrayals.
“In 2003, while he was Vice President, Atiku sabotaged our efforts to win Lagos for the PDP. Though he apologised in 2018, the harm was done. If we had won Lagos, Nigeria’s political history would have changed significantly. Instead, he became the first sitting Vice President to defect, moving to the Action Congress in 2007,” Olayinka recounted.
The FCT aide also dismissed Atiku’s political associates, particularly criticising media references to Dele Momodu as a ‘PDP heavyweight.’
“How can someone who only joined in 2022 be called a heavyweight? Can Dele Momodu even deliver his polling unit? Writing photo books doesn’t equate to political strength,” he stated mockingly.
Olayinka further blamed Atiku’s 2014 defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for triggering the PDP’s collapse in subsequent years.
“That single move damaged us profoundly. Now he has left again after contributing nothing to the party’s recovery. Frankly, it’s as though he was prescribed the presidency as medication for some obsessive ailment. His desperation is pathological,” Olayinka said.
Asked about the PDP’s chances in 2027, Olayinka admitted the party remains deeply wounded but suggested that Atiku’s absence offers a chance for genuine recovery.
“The party is damaged, no doubt. But at least we can start rebuilding without this recurring decimal that keeps haunting us. 2027 may still be too soon for a full comeback, but we have an opportunity now,” he acknowledged.
Defending his own political standing, Olayinka clarified that his position in the APC-led government does not equate to a defection from the PDP.
“Working in a government is not the same as joining the ruling party. Even Bola Ige served in a PDP government without leaving his party. Atiku, on the other hand, has been the real party wrecker,” he stated.
He concluded by predicting that Atiku’s new political moves would collapse, warning that any attempts by him to return to the PDP should be firmly resisted.
“This so-called coalition he’s plotting is nothing but a coalition of confusion. When it collapses, he’ll come knocking on PDP’s doors again. But this time, we must ensure that door remains firmly shut,” Olayinka cautioned.
In response, Atiku’s spokesperson, Phillip Shuaibu, defended his principal’s decision to resign from the PDP, describing it as a principled stand against an opposition that has become compromised and ineffective.
“Atiku hasn’t given up. He simply refuses to be part of a PDP that can no longer confront the rudderless government dragging Nigeria towards a one-party state where the futures of 200 million citizens are endangered,” Shuaibu argued.
He also dismissed criticisms surrounding Atiku’s use of the vice-presidential coat of arms. “Even in the United States, former office holders retain ceremonial seals. There’s nothing illegal or immoral about that.”
Shuaibu addressed the timing of Atiku’s resignation, clarifying that it was quietly submitted to his ward without any public spectacle.
He noted that Atiku spent three days mourning former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, contrary to claims of insensitivity.
“It’s ironic that while Atiku was respectfully mourning in Daura, some government aides were busy insulting Buhari’s memory on social media,” Shuaibu said.
Regarding Atiku’s potential 2027 presidential bid, Shuaibu remained noncommittal. “2027 is still a long way off. For now, our focus is ensuring that this government doesn’t succeed in completely destroying Nigeria’s democratic opposition,” he stated.
The ongoing war of words between Atiku’s camp and the PDP establishment underscores the fractures within Nigeria’s political opposition ahead of the next electoral cycle, as both sides position themselves for relevance and survival.