- Atiku Abubakar dismissed comments by Tinubu’s adviser as desperate attempts to undermine his political relevance
- He accused the Presidency of panicking over an emerging opposition coalition and ignoring Nigeria’s real challenges
- Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding Nigeria, undeterred by what he called personal attacks and smear campaigns
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at remarks made by Daniel Bwala, a former aide-turned-special adviser to President Bola Tinubu, accusing the presidency of being in a state of panic over a rapidly forming coalition of opposition forces.
Bwala, speaking during a recent television interview, advised Atiku to abandon any ambition for the 2027 presidential election, suggesting it might not be divinely ordained for him to lead Nigeria.
He further claimed that Atiku had lost between 60 to 70 percent of his political base since the 2023 elections.
In a strongly worded response issued by his media office, Atiku—who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023—dismissed Bwala’s comments as “disparaging” and “desperate.”
The statement described the remarks as part of a broader campaign by the Tinubu administration to undermine the former vice president’s political relevance.
“The Presidency’s obsession with Atiku’s political future is a clear sign of panic, Rather than focus on addressing the nation’s economic hardship, institutional decay, and worsening insecurity, they have chosen to launch smear campaigns against the most formidable voice of the opposition,” the statement said.
Atiku’s media team also took aim at Bwala personally, labeling him a “political turncoat” who once campaigned vigorously for Atiku but is now “seeking favor from a floundering administration.”
The statement reaffirmed Atiku’s commitment to his “rescue and rebuild” agenda for Nigeria, stressing that his political vision remains unshaken despite personal attacks.
“He will not be distracted by political jesters masquerading as patriots,” it concluded.
Atiku urges Tinubu to prioritise unity, democracy over divisive policies
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to put Nigeria first and align its actions with its rhetoric, particularly in promoting national unity and strengthening the country’s democracy.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku expressed concerns about the growing divisions along ethnic, religious, and class lines since Tinubu took office.
