A support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Grand Alliance for Tinubu -Shettima, has accused the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar of instigating disunity in the country.
The group, in a press statement yesterday, signed by its director, Kazeem Kolawole Raji, said Atiku’s fixation on Tinubu’s running mate shows that he was not committed to the unity and development of the country.
Recall that Atiku had asked Nigerians not to reward the ruling APC for their failures by rejecting them at the polls.
Raji alleged that Atiku fought to be the running mate to the late MKO Abiola in 1993, adding that for the former vice president to be speaking against the same faith ticket now is purely for political expediency.
He, therefore, warned that Atiku is desperate for power and that Nigerians should be wary of him.
“We view Atiku’s interview as a sensational attempt on his part to shore up his already dwindling political image. This is occasioned by his leaving the country immediately after his dismal performance in the 2019 election where he lost to President Muhammadu Buhari.”
“After spending three years on sabbatical in Dubai, his new adopted country, Atiku might be tempted to believe that announcing his arrival with a sensational headline will be the best, unfortunately, he hits the wrong Target in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC Standard bearer.”
The group said they were concerned that someone of Atiku’s status will be stoking the embers of religious fire just to make cheap political gains.
“While it is understandable that all is fair during war, it is highly unexpected of someone of Atiku’s status, a former vice president who should understand better the political repercussions of religious crisis to be at the forefront of inflaming this dangerous weapon of division.
“Maybe it just occurred to Vice President Atiku in 2022 that he rejected Tinubu’s Vice Presidency in 2007 on account of being a Muslim but let us remind him that he begged and cried to be MKO Abiola’s running mate in the build up to the 1993 Presidential election. Abiola must have been a Southern Christian then.
“Electorates should be wary of politicians like Atiku who employ every antic, no matter how dirty, to advance his political ambition. He can go to any length not minding the negative fall-out of such actions. He is desperate for power. Nigerians should be wary of Atiku,” he added.