…In 2007, the former Vice President was like a political orphan, and out of pity and his benevolence, Bola Tinubu offered him a platform to contest on a platter of gold to save his political career from sliding into oblivion and shipwreck

A volunteer group called, BAT Southwest Volunteers, working for the success of the APC standard bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described Abubakar Atiku’s attempt to tarnish the image of Tinubu as a sign of disrespect, loss of moral compass, and declining memory about past events.

A statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Gbadebo Adeagbo, described Atiku as ungrateful to his benefactors, noting that his desperate attempt at becoming the president of the country has made him forget so soon the clear facts that are open to all Nigerians.

The National Publicity Secretary added that Atiku has been a beneficiary of the Southwest political largesse and at some point, used the geopolitical zone to serve as a resort and bastion of hope in the search of his political redirection. Adeagbo recalled; how former President Olusegun Obasanjo vetoed other dissenting voices to pick Atiku as running mate in 1999.

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In 2007, the former Vice President was like a political orphan, and out of pity and his benevolence, Bola Tinubu offered him a platform to contest on a platter of gold to save his political career from sliding into oblivion and shipwreck.

“Nigerians can recount how Atiku effortlessly made move at succeeding his former boss in 2007 because he believed he has sufficient stolen funds to wage war against his benefactor. Everyone is also aware when Bola Tinubu, offered him a platform he never laboured for, without giving him any condition to contest. Although Atiku lost, not because of the platform he was offered but because many Nigerians believed he showed a strong predilection to mistrust.

“It is also open to everyone that Atiku has moved from one political party to another more than any politician in Nigeria not because he loves the country so dearly but because he wants to actualize his long-time ambition of becoming the President since his first attempt in 1993 proved abortive.”, The statement stressed.

It is therefore sad that despite the efforts of one of the major pillars of the Yoruba race to salvage Atiku, he has never for once shown appreciation to the Yorubas in the selection of his running mate. In 2007, Atiku chose Senator Ben Obi despite running on a predominantly Yoruba-based structure. The same trajectory happened in 2019 and 2023, where he unilaterally ignored the choice of Yoruba running mate.

No wonder former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently expressed that the choice of Atiku was his biggest political mistake but, for God, he would have been carried away by Atiku’s tsunami and machinations.

On his part, the National Coordinator of the group, Samuel Olajide, cautions Atiku from setting the two dominant religions against each other, stressing that any attempt to politicize the already fragile religious situation of the country may backfire.

The National Coordinator advised him to face his party’s problem, advising him to face his party’s affairs squarely while urging him to show readiness in facing Wike’s query anytime soon, even as Gov Wike has promised to reveal what transpired between him and Atiku.

Olajide urged Nigerians to see Atiku’s comments as inciteful and one that is driven by his inability to remember the past event.