Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, has strongly accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of distorting the truth about the selection of his running mate for the 2023 Presidential election. In a scathing statement on Saturday, Olayinka refuted Atiku’s claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) committee had ranked former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the top choice for the Vice Presidential slot.
Atiku had previously stated that the committee ranked Okowa first, Wike second, and former Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel third, leading to his decision to choose Okowa as his running mate. However, Olayinka dismissed this as a fabrication, insisting that the PDP committee overwhelmingly favored Wike, with 13 votes compared to Okowa’s two.
Olayinka didn’t stop there, calling out Atiku for spreading falsehoods during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. He quoted a teaching from the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), which condemns false speech, adding that Atiku’s actions were likely a reason for his continued failures in his quest for the presidency. “Atiku chose to tell lies so brazenly during Ramadan, forgetting that Allah (SWT) does not heed the prayers of liars,” Olayinka said.
He further clarified that while Wike was not initially seeking the vice presidency, he accepted the position under certain conditions. Despite the controversy surrounding the selection, Olayinka emphasized that Wike had no regrets and had moved on from the 2023 election. “Wike stands by every decision he made,” Olayinka stated.
This heated exchange has intensified the ongoing political drama surrounding the 2023 election and the power struggles within the PDP, with Olayinka calling for Atiku to own up to the truth and stop distorting the facts.
