Wike is my friend — but I’ll support Atiku as president, says Tambuwal

Aminu Tambuwal, senator representing Sokoto south and former governor of Sokoto, has refuted claims that he betrayed Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), during the 2022 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In 2022, Tambuwal withdrew from the race to support the aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president.

Tambuwal’s decision was described by political analysts as a twist to the PDP presidential primary as it created the opportunity for Atiku to secure more votes from north-west delegates.

At the end of the exercise, the former vice-president polled 371 votes and was declared the winner, 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.

Speaking on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Tambuwal said his relationship with Wike remains cordial and 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 said that his presidential ambition was long 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,” he said.

“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?”

The former speaker of the house of representatives said Wike was aware of his ambition before declaring his interest.

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

“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.”

Tambuwal concluded that he would rather back Atiku over Wike if both men were the only choices to lead the country.

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