Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in next year’s elections, Atiku Abubakar, is, again, in trouble over his recent Arise TV interview.
This time, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, called him a liar for his comments in the interview; and in what appears to be a teaser to more revelations on Friday, at the Port Harcourt International Airport shortly after he returned from Spain, stated “I told my special adviser on Media that I am going to speak on issues. We know in this part of our world when lies are been contorted, it becomes a fact.
“I have always believed when the left speaks, allow the right to also speak. We are not getting younger and as days passes we get older.
“So (it) is important when issues are raised or when speeches are made, one should be able to say this the part of my story so that the public we know the truth.
“It is most unfortunate since after our primary I have decided to be quiet because (PDP) is a party I love so much. I never said anything, I decided to go back home and fulfill the promises I made to the people of Rivers State.
“But there comes a time I need to speak and let Nigerians know the actual truth. Having known the truth, whatever they decide to do with it is left for them.
“When the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar unveiled his running mate, no right thinking person and a lover of this party will say that the speech he made on that day was fair.
“Forget about his hailers, the scavengers and I never reacted to it. I said, no this party belongs to all of us.
“Thereafter Atiku appeared on Arise TV, see the statement he made. So many lies were told and then you said I should not react to some of those issues. That will not be fair.
“Assuming today I’m not alive, obviously what he has said will be accepted as the truth”.
Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had also taken exception to Atiku’s Arise TV interview, describing his comments on the programme as less than the truth.
But the former Vice President’s comments were corroborated by none than Tinubu’s political ally, Chief Bisi Akande, whose book detailed how Atiku was a co-founder of the Action Congress of Nigeria, a political party; and how Tinubu pushed to be a vice presidential candidate to Atiku 15 years ago.
Tinubu, in a statement, had said Atiku lied when he said he was interested in being his running mate in 2007. He also gave the impression that Atiku was a joiner and not a founder in Action Congress.