Tambuwal: I’ll Support Atiku Over Wike for Nigeria’s Leadership

Former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has said that if given a choice, he would back former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for Nigeria’s future leadership.

Speaking on Politics Today on Friday, Tambuwal explained that his political alignment is guided by principles of governance rather than personal loyalty.

“When it comes to leadership of this country and leadership of the people, tomorrow, not even today, I would rather support Atiku than Nyesom Wike,” he stated.

Disagreements between Wike and some PDP leaders trace back to 2023, when the former Rivers State governor accused Atiku, Tambuwal, and Bukola Saraki of breaking a zoning arrangement that would have favoured the South in the party’s presidential ticket.

At the time, Wike said:
“There’s nobody contesting for the presidency from the north that I do not have a relationship with…that I don’t support. And there’s no one of them who has not come to me, Wike, and said, ‘with you, I think I’ll have my way…but if we agree on something, let’s keep to it.’”

He also recalled supporting Tambuwal’s bid to become Speaker of the House of Representatives, even when the party had endorsed another candidate.

Clarifying his stance, Tambuwal emphasized that political differences should not be seen as personal rifts. He maintained that he has always upheld respectful relationships with leaders across party lines.

“It is a collaboration; it is not something difficult. Once it is about being altruistic and nothing personal. You have never seen me going against President Bola Tinubu personally, you have never heard of me going against Nyesom Wike personally,” he said.

Tambuwal further explained that his disagreements with past leaders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, were based on ideology, not animosity.

“We disagreed on principle, the way, and the direction things are going. I had no problem personally with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, but we disagreed, and I left PDP for APC,” he noted.

Reiterating the separation between personal friendship and political choices, Tambuwal said:
“It is not about my friendship with you, and I am saying this with all sense of responsibility. If Atiku Abubakar comes in here and Wike requests my phone, which is personal to me, I will personally give it to Wike as a personal friend.”