The former vice president and the presidential candidate of the people’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, react to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, saying he didn’t reject the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, he picked who can deliver.

While Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Friday morning, Atiku said he only picked who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He noted, “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

He speak On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

According to him, “We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.

He added, “I have contested this presidency a couple of times and I don’t try to blame anybody, I accept the outcome or go to court.

“I’m driven by passion and desire to give back to this country. I’m driven by the passion to give back to this country because of what the country has done for me,” Atiku noted.