‘He’ll tell Nigerians what betrayal is’ — Wike’s aide says minister will respond to Tambuwal in due course

Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says his principal will respond to a recent interview granted by Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto.

In the interview, Tambuwal, senator representing Sokoto south, denied betraying Wike during the 2022 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Tambuwal said his relationship with Wike remains cordial, insisting that he never went against any agreement.

“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.

Tambuwal had withdrawn from the presidential primary and asked his supporters to vote for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Analysts said Tambuwal’s decision altered the dynamics of the election, shifting more votes to Abubakar, whom Wike had been tipped to defeat.

Wike reportedly backed Tambuwal in the PDP’s 2018 presidential primary and considered the former Sokoto governor’s decision in 2022 as a betrayal.

In a statement issued on Monday, Olayinka said Wike would respond to Tambuwal in due course.

“The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister,  Nyesom Wike, will in due course, give appropriate response to all that were said last Friday, by the former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal,” the statement reads.

“Apart from what he said against the Minister, Tambuwal also cast aspersions on President Tinubu, and such will not go unresponded to.

“Therefore, what I can say is that the Minister will respond accordingly.  He will definitely tell Nigerians what a betrayal is and what it means to have integrity. Till then, let’s keep our fingers crossed.”