- The Presidency strongly advised Atiku Abubakar to end his “unsuccessful bid” for the presidency and avoid disrupting national unity
- The Special Adviser criticized Atiku’s reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision, citing his fragmented party platform and controversial history
In a recent development, the Presidency has strongly advised former Vice-President and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to end what they’ve described as his “unsuccessful bid” for the presidency. The call comes with a warning to refrain from engaging in activities that might further disrupt the political landscape and national unity.
The catalyst for this reaction was Atiku’s recent press conference held in Abuja. During the conference, Atiku raised concerns about the Supreme Court’s decision on October 26, which upheld President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s electoral victory.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, issued a statement in response. He emphasized that Atiku entered the February 2023 elections “with a fragmented and tattered umbrella.”
In a strongly worded statement titled ‘Time for Atiku Abubakar to finally step back and abandon his presidential ambition,’ Onanuga stated, “Atiku’s electoral defeat can be attributed to his participation in a major election with a fractured party platform that was unable to maintain unity.”
He went on to express his disappointment with Atiku’s reaction to the court’s decision, remarking, “It was misguided to anticipate that Atiku, at the age of 77, would act as a statesman and accept the verdict of the highest court and the Nigerian people with grace.”
Onanuga further criticized Atiku’s stance against national institutions, particularly after the Supreme Court’s ruling, asserting that Atiku had “unapologetically assumed the role of a demagogue and an anarchist.”
The Presidency expressed bewilderment over Atiku’s choice of coalition partners, given the circumstances. They questioned how Atiku, as the Wazirin Adamawa, could have envisioned a path to victory when aligning with Mr. Peter Obi’s Labour Party, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s NNPP, and the PDP G-5 Governors, who siphoned potential PDP votes. In stark contrast, the All Progressives Congress (APC), with President Tinubu as its candidate, entered the election as a robust, cohesive entity.
Moreover, the statement highlighted controversial aspects of Atiku’s political history. Notably, it mentioned Atiku’s claim of involvement in ending military rule in Nigeria, which contradicts his association with the same junta.
Additionally, the statement underscored allegations of corruption against Atiku. It pointed out that “the US Congress has identified Atiku’s money laundering as a rare instance of corruption at the highest echelons of global governance.”
In conclusion, the Presidency’s firm advice to Atiku to withdraw from his bid for the presidency underscores the continuing political tensions in Nigeria and the high-stakes nature of the upcoming elections.