I’m more qualified to be president than Tinubu, Atiku, Osinbajo: Wike

“Nigeria has a problem…If they have given you the opportunity, what are you going to do to make sure that Nigerians benefit?”

Ahmed Oluwasanjo • February 2, 2022

Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu and Yemi Osinbajo

Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers says he is more qualified than ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, incumbent Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC national leader Bola Tinubu and others aspiring to be Nigeria’s president in 2023.

“Assuming today I want to run for the office of the president, what quality do you think I do not have? Why do you think I cannot provide the right leadership for Nigeria to move forward?” the former minister and incumbent Rivers governor asked.

Answering his own question, he asserted, “For somebody of my kind and record, a governor and a minister, I don’t even see anybody who will tell me that he is much more qualified than me. I don’t think that is possible.”

Mr Wike made the assertion Tuesday night on Channels TV.

While he has not made a public declaration to run for president, he insisted that “it is not good for anybody to say ‘my aspirant is the best of the aspirants’.”

Apart from Messrs Tinubu, Atiku and Osinbajo, known to be eyeing the presidency, others interested in becoming Nigeria’s president in 2023 include Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, ex-Governors Peter Obi of Anambra and Rochas Okorocha.

“All I preach is that people should talk on issues. Nigeria has a problem,” Mr Wike pointed out. “If they have given you the opportunity, what are you going to do to make sure that Nigerians benefit?”

Mr Wike’s comment came a few days after he was rumoured to have been picked to deputise Mr Abubakar though he debunked the claim.

On Tuesday, the ex-vice president paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida.

Sharing pictures of the visit, Mr Abubakar wrote, “At a courtesy visit to former military President Ibrahim Babangida and Gov Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State in Minna today.”

His visit came weeks after another presidential hopeful, Bola Tinubu, went to see the former dictator for his ‘blessings’ ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

Although Mr Atiku has not publicly announced he would run for president next year, it appears he has not given up on his presidential ambition.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.