Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as a “voodoo economist”, while dismissing him as a leading contender in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike spoke while responding to journalists during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Abuja, where he also criticised Atiku’s recent promise to restore the petrol subsidy if elected.
Atiku had said he would bring back the subsidy and recover funds allegedly misappropriated from the scheme, despite previously stating in 2022 that he would remove the subsidy within his first 100 days in office.
Wike described the shift as evidence of inconsistency and argued that only President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, currently qualifies as a leading contender.
“You have only one leading candidate, and that’s Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. I have told people this will be the easiest election.”
The FCT minister also argued that the opposition lacks the unity required to challenge the ruling party, saying the political landscape is less competitive than it was in 2023.
“2027 is gone. It’s gone because you don’t have an opposition that want to wrestle power from the government,” he said.
Wike Attacks Atiku Over Fuel Subsidy
Wike questioned Atiku’s decision to support the removal of the subsidy in the past while now promising to restore it if elected.
“Atiku, who is confused? Who acts like a voodoo economist? Atiku would say anything just to be president.”
He recalled that Atiku had described the fuel subsidy as fraudulent in 2022 and questioned why he would now seek to bring it back.
Wike also argued that the structure of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector has changed following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and the commercialisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
He questioned how a future administration would implement a subsidy regime when private refiners such as the Dangote Refinery are producing fuel.
“Is he going to give fuel subsidy to the Dangote Refinery? The fuel produced by Dangote Refinery, is it not going to be impossible?”
The minister said Atiku would have been better off arguing for more effective use of funds saved from subsidy removal rather than promising to reverse the policy.
Wike credited the Tinubu administration’s subsidy removal with easing financial pressure on states and local governments, citing improvements in their ability to pay salaries and pensions.
“Nobody talks about non-payment of pensions, nobody talks about non-payment of salaries. Before, for you to pay salaries, you would beg and beg the banks to give you money.”
Wike Speaks on Abuja Security
On insecurity in Abuja, Wike rejected claims that armed robbery had increased in the nation’s capital.
“I am not saying there are no one or two incidents of crime, but to say that armed robbery has increased in Abuja, I don’t agree.”
He said security agencies regularly provide reports to the FCT administration and expressed confidence in their ability to respond to criminal incidents.
Wike also responded to complaints about the performance of Area Council chairmen, saying they were accountable to the residents who elected them.
“They are the people who elected them. They should ask them. I did not appoint them, they were elected. So, everybody has his own constitutional role.”
The minister also expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing road projects inspected across Abuja.
