2027: ‘Atiku a voodoo economist, not leading candidate’ – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has described the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as a voodoo economist.

Wike made the remark while insisting that Atiku is not a leading contender in the 2027 presidential election.

He spoke in Abuja while addressing journalists in reaction to Atiku’s claim that he would not remove the fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.

In a Facebook live session, Atiku said he would not remove the fuel subsidy because the scheme was shrouded in fraud.

He charged the Nigerian government to reveal the amount realised from the removal of the fuel subsidy and where the money was spent.

However, Wike said: “I disagree that Atiku is one of the leading presidential candidates. We have only one leading candidate, and that is Bola Tinubu.

“I have people who really deserve elections, and why did I say so? Elections are not merely about parties presenting their candidates.

“2027 is gone because we don’t have any opposition that wants to wrestle power from the government.

“Atiku, who is a voodoo economist, will say anything just to be president. 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. Is he going back to the fraud which he alleged the fuel subsidy was? We should be consistent in what we send to our people.”