Drunkard: Why Wike Has Remained Mum To Atiku’s Attack

Almost 48 hours after Atiku Abubakar launched a bristling attack on Governor Nyesom Wike as a drunkard, Nigerians are in disbelief over the failure of the normally assertive governor of Rivers State to respond.

The shock by many Nigerians awaiting the response from Wike is that when last the governor got a hint from a political adversary of being given to alcohol, it took him only hours to respond.

GWG.ng reports that Atiku Abubakar had in a statement last Sunday through his aide, Phrank Shaibu accused Wike of being a drunkard.

Atiku launched at Wike after the governor had while addressing supporters at the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State last Friday stated that he was drinking a 40-year-old whiskey while he watched members of the PDP led by Atiku protesting against the alleged electoral fraud of February 25 in Abuja.

“As they were protesting, I just sat down and took a 40-year whisky. I called some of my friends and opened the 40-year-old whisky as they were protesting,” Wike had said.

Responding, Atiku in terming Wike a drunkard said:

“Governor Wike has confirmed what we all know. That he is a drunkard. The protest that was led by Waziri Atiku Abubakar on Monday, March 6, 2023, was against the stealing of the mandate of the Nigerian people, which in itself was a noble cause.

“For the sake of clarity, the protest occurred around 11.30am. Governor Wike says he was drinking whisky during the protest at 11.30am on a Monday. This reveals the sort of man he is – a dipsomaniac  who abandons his official duties on Monday morning to binge on whisky.

“This explains the reason for his hoarse voice, which is similar to that of a motor park tout. It is obvious that Governor Wike also dances under the influence of alcohol. No wonder it is characterised by aesthetic vulgarity.

“It is a common rule that you do not drink and drive. Unfortunately, a drunkard is the one steering the wheel of governance in Rivers State. This is more disturbing because he is married to a judge. Indeed, the term, as sober as a judge, could not even rub off positively on the cantankerous governor,” the Atiku aide said in the attack on Wike who he called a drunkard.

However, almost 48 hours later, Governor Wike who had gone on national television networks to respond to lesser issues has remained mum.

GWG.ng reports that when two years ago Rotimi Amaechi said on national television that he does not drink alcohol even without mentioning his successor, that Governor Wike took it as a snide attack on him.

Amaechi had on March 10, 2021 while speaking during an interview on Kaakaki, the AIT morning show said that he does not take decisions under the influence of alcohol.

Later that afternoon, Wike descended on Amaechi, during the commissioning of the Omuihuechi-Omuoko-Omokiri link Road in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Wike went personal on Amaechi describing him as a failed student who had read law over 16 years in two continents and described the minister as posturing falsely as an incorruptible person.

Wike said that day:

“This morning I was watching Kaakaki and I hear somebody that is a minister was talking and he said he does not drink. Who told you to drink? If the way you are behaving and you drink…

“People should allow sleeping dogs to lie. If you don’t allow sleeping dogs to lie, we will tell you where you come from.

“I have never done law for 16 years. I am not like those who are reading law for 16 years from London to Baze University.

“I felt that I should come to his local government and tell him that if he doesn’t keep quiet. I am just doing introduction, I have not said anything, if he talks, I talk.”

“You don’t drink alcohol, but you take Holy Communion, is there no alcohol inside. You don’t drink alcohol but you drink 10 cans of Power Horse, which one is more dangerous?”

Why Wike Is Mum On Atiku’s Attack Of Being A Drunkard

Governor Wike’s silence on the issue it was gathered may be intentional as he may not want to further stir the political arena with more fight with the presidential candidate of his party after their bruising fight after the party primaries.

Another school of thought believes that Wike may be fending off another fight because of the resilience of Atiku’s aide, Phrank Shaibu who issued the statement. Shaibu a veteran communication specialist according to sources was once a consultant to Amaechi as governor of Rivers State during which time he also worked along with Wike.

“Wike knows Shaibu that they know themselves and I know he will not react to the statement of Atiku calling him a drunkard,” one source said.

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