As who? Wike speaks as though he holds absolute authority—as if he were a political deity. This is nothing but an illusion of strength. Why shouldn’t the North produce the next presidential candidate? What exactly are they afraid of?
Let’s be honest: the fear of zoning the ticket to the North is driven by one agenda—the desperate attempt to block Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, from contesting. But let no one be deceived. No amount of manipulation, alliance of convenience, or orchestrated narrative will stop Atiku from clinching the ticket if that remains the will of the delegates.
It is not a mark of strength to attempt to suppress another man’s ambition or to undermine the political significance of an entire region. Sadly, Wike is being misled—emboldened by the temporary loyalty of a few southern and Middle Belt governors. But just as he was shocked in the 2023 PDP primaries, another political reality check awaits him.
In response to a comment on my earlier post that asked: “If Atiku had picked Wike as Vice in 2023, would there have been a Southern agenda?”—let’s be clear.
That argument is fundamentally flawed. It implies Wike’s loyalty was contingent on personal gain, not rooted in party unity or national interest. The choice of a running mate is the sole prerogative of the presidential flagbearer. No candidate should be blackmailed or emotionally cornered into selecting anyone out of fear of political retribution.
In hindsight, Atiku’s decision not to pick Wike was perhaps a wise one. Wike’s post-primary conduct—disruptive, egocentric, and openly vindictive—only validates Atiku’s judgment. A true leader does not hold the party to ransom because he was not chosen.
Let’s remember: in the 2015 APC presidential primaries, Atiku Abubakar lost to Muhammadu Buhari. Yet, he gave a concession speech in which he declared, “This is the man that will fix Nigeria.” He backed those words with action—providing billions of naira in support, a helicopter, and campaign vehicles to ensure Buhari’s victory. He believed in the Buhari presidency and was prepared to contribute to its success. That is how a statesman behaves when he loses a primary—not with bitterness, but with grace and loyalty.
Atiku Abubakar has long moved beyond the divisive politics of exclusion. Many of us—from the North and South—stand firmly with him because we believe in his vision, in his experience, and in his commitment to a united, prosperous Nigeria.
Politics will be played, and it will be played right. We will show those who think they are the masters of the game that they are still learning its basics.
Let the delegates decide. Let the people speak. Enough of the threats, the arrogance, and the illusion of a manufactured consensus.
