Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has addressed the latest wave of defections from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), together with that of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his former working mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, amongst others.
In an announcement shared by way of his verified X deal with, Atiku mentioned he bears no grudges in opposition to those that selected to realign politically, stressing that freedom of affiliation is a constitutional proper in any democracy.
“I’ve been overwhelmed with inquiries from involved Nigerians, all keen to grasp my place on the most recent political shifts,” Atiku wrote. “Let me be unequivocal: freedom of affiliation and expression usually are not optionally available in a democracy — they’re basic rights.”
He dismissed criticisms of his latest go to to former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying such engagements are regular in a useful democracy.
“Some have resorted to insults as a result of I visited former President Muhammadu Buhari. Let’s not rewrite historical past: Buhari shouldn’t be solely a former chief however a big statesman within the Nigerian political panorama,” he mentioned, recalling related visits made through the 2013 opposition merger talks.
Atiku accused critics of double requirements, saying that whereas PDP figures eating with President Bola Tinubu are hailed as strategic, his personal outreach efforts are vilified.
“When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering energy offers with President Tinubu, it’s referred to as strategic alliance. However the second I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or go to Buhari, it turns into a nationwide emergency,” he said.
Shifting focus to nationwide points, Atiku condemned the Tinubu-led administration for what he described as {economic} failure and rising hardship throughout the nation.
“The financial system is in freefall. Inflation is choking the plenty. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying ranges. Nigerians usually are not simply drained — they’re offended, and rightfully so,” he mentioned.
Atiku urged Nigerians to withstand distractions based mostly on ethnicity, area, or faith, calling such techniques “instruments of manipulation” utilized by these clinging to energy with out efficiency.
“The Tinubu administration has no achievements to face on, no credible file to defend. Its solely technique is chaos and division, as a result of that’s the final refuge of the incompetent,” he declared.
The previous vice chairman’s feedback come amid rising political realignments forward of the 2027 common elections, and mounting criticism of the present administration’s dealing with of {economic} and safety challenges.
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Learn Atiku’s submit under in full:
I’ve been overwhelmed with inquiries from involved Nigerians, all keen to grasp my place on the most recent political shifts, notably the defection of some PDP members to the ruling social gathering.
Let me be unequivocal: freedom of affiliation and expression usually are not optionally available in a democracy — they’re basic rights. Alongside these stand the pillars of a simply and useful democratic society: the individuals, the rule of regulation, credible elections, and accountability. Undermine any of those, and democracy itself begins to crumble.
As somebody who holds quick to those values, I bear no grudges in opposition to anybody for exercising their proper to political alignment. Defections, alliances, and realignments are half and parcel of democratic politics. We’ve seen them earlier than, and we’ll see them once more.
Some have resorted to insults as a result of I visited former President Muhammadu Buhari. Let’s not rewrite historical past: Buhari shouldn’t be solely a former chief however a big statesman within the Nigerian political panorama. In the course of the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted extensively — together with visits to Obasanjo and Babangida. So why is it now sacrilegious for me and different leaders to go to Buhari in Kaduna? If you happen to really consider in freedom of affiliation, then you should respect the rights of all political actors to have interaction, no matter social gathering strains.
When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering energy offers with President Tinubu, it’s referred to as strategic alliance. However the second I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or go to Buhari, it turns into a nationwide emergency. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have by no means been this modern!
Allow us to be clear: the approaching political battle shouldn’t be APC versus PDP, or LP versus APC. It’s Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the nation into untold struggling. The financial system is in freefall. Inflation is choking the plenty. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying ranges. Nigerians usually are not simply drained — they’re offended, and rightfully so.
This second is about collective survival. The actual enemy shouldn’t be each other — it’s the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure. We should reject each try and distract us with ethnic, regional, or spiritual sentiments. These are instruments of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, utilized by these with nothing else to supply.
The Tinubu administration has no achievements to face on, no credible file to defend. Its solely technique is chaos and division, as a result of that’s the final refuge of the incompetent. And make no mistake— an incompetent captain doesn’t solely wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everybody on board. -AA
