Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the leadership of the National Assembly of corruption over the swift manner the approval for a state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu was given.
Atiku who made the allegation during an interview with journalist Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie on Untold Stories, said he was not surprised that the National Assembly approved the emergency rule in record time without any opposition.
While speaking on the situation in Rivers State, Atiku said:
“I was not surprised because I know that the leadership is corrupt, and I have no apologies for that. They could do anything. The Senate President is actually known for having that type of character, even when he was a governor.”
The former VP also took a swipe at Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alleging that the former Akwa Ibom State governor has a history of corruption and misconduct even as a sitting governor.
“He was corrupt. Not only was he corrupt, but he was also in the habit of abusing women.”
Atiku who also addressed his decision not to select former Rivers State governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election, said he had no regrets whatsoever for not choosing Wike.
Also spoke on the possibility of a political coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Atiku suggested that he would only support a credible candidate who emerges from the alliance, even if he is not the flag bearer.
“We had a similar merger in 2014, where about three or four of us contested for the presidency. One of us emerged, and we all supported him, and he won. I have never seen Nigeria in greater need of experienced and credible leadership than now,” he stated.
