In 2027, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, referred to the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as a ‘voodoo economist’ and downplayed his chances of becoming a leading contender in the upcoming presidential election.
Wike voiced these opinions in Abuja while responding to Atiku’s recent statements about the removal of the petrol subsidy. Atiku had stated that he would not eliminate the subsidy if he were elected president, citing past instances of fraud associated with it. He also urged the Federal Government to disclose how much revenue had been generated from the subsidy removal and detail how the funds had been spent.
Wike insisted that Atiku is not among the primary presidential contenders, asserting that President Bola Tinubu remains the frontrunner for the 2027 election. “I disagree that Atiku is one of the leading presidential candidates. We have only one leading candidate, and that is Bola Tinubu,” Wike stated.
He also expressed doubts about the strength of the opposition, arguing that the political climate currently benefits the ruling administration. “2027 is gone because we don’t have any opposition that wants to wrestle power from the government,” he added.
Wike challenged Atiku’s position on the fuel subsidy, criticizing what he saw as inconsistency. According to Wike, Atiku once supported removing the subsidy but has since altered his stance as the 2027 election approaches. “Atiku, who is a voodoo economist, will say anything just to be president,” Wike remarked. “This was a man who was going to remove the fuel subsidy in 2022. Now, in 2026, he is not going to remove the fuel subsidy.”
Wike questioned whether Atiku intended to revert to a subsidy arrangement he previously criticized as fraudulent. He called on political leaders to stay consistent in their policies and messages when communicating with Nigerians.
These remarks contribute to the escalating political tension between supporters of the Tinubu administration and opposing figures as election activities pick up pace ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
