Senator representing Sokoto South and former governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal, has dismissed claims that he betrayed Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), during the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary.
In 2022, Tambuwal stepped down from the race to back Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president.
His withdrawal was seen by many political observers as a decisive twist in the PDP primary, giving Atiku an edge with additional support from north-west delegates.
Atiku went on to win with 371 votes, while Wike, then governor of Rivers State and his closest rival, secured 237 votes.
At the time, Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP national chairman, hailed Tambuwal as the “hero” of the convention.
Speaking on Friday during Channels Television’s Politics Today, Tambuwal stressed that his relationship with Wike remains cordial and insisted he did not breach any agreement.
“I have nothing against Wike, I did not betray anybody. It is when you have an understanding with somebody and you go against it that you betray the person,” he said.
Tambuwal explained that his presidential ambition had been in play long before Wike entered the race.
“I was also running, he met me in the race. I was running for president of Nigeria. I was in from 2012/2013,” he said.
“My friend Nyesom Wike was not then. I was in the political calculus of Nigeria for the presidency of Nigeria since then.
“He (Wike) joined for the presidency of Nigeria in 2022, so who met who in the race?”
The former speaker of the house of representatives said Wike was fully aware of his ambition before declaring his own.
“He gave me the indication, but he met me in the race. He knew that I was running,” Tambuwal added.
“If Atiku comes in here today and Wike comes in here and requests for this my phone, my personal phone, I will give it to Wike because he is my friend.”
However, Tambuwal made clear that, if forced to choose between the two, he would prefer Atiku over Wike to lead the nation.
”Even tomorrow, I would rather support Atiku instead of Nyesom Wike for the leadership of this country,” he added.