Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of undermining Southern presidential aspirations and misleading former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 17, Kachikwu claimed that Atiku has consistently worked against the emergence of a president from Nigeria’s Southern region.
READ ALSO: Atiku Abubakar dumps PDP
He alleged that during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second-term bid, Atiku attempted to derail his re-election in an effort to seize power for himself.
Kachikwu further suggested that the former vice president has never genuinely supported the principle of power rotation.
Instead, he said Atiku’s political maneuvers are driven by personal ambition, often at the expense of unity and fairness.
“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a man whose antecedents clearly show he doesn’t believe anyone from the southern part of Nigeria is deserving of being president of Nigeria, orchestrated this charade for his personal benefit,” Kachikwu stated.
He pointed to the treatment of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the events following President Buhari’s two terms in office as further proof of Atiku’s disregard for Southern representation at the top level.
“President Jonathan suffered the same fate, and then after eight years of late President Buhari as president, the same Atiku believed it was morally right for him to be the presidential flag bearer of the PDP in the last presidential elections,” he noted.
Kachikwu also warned that Atiku is currently attempting to manipulate Peter Obi into supporting his ambitions by claiming only he can secure significant votes in the North.
“He is now using some charlatans to deceive former governor Peter Obi that only he, Atiku, has what it takes to win an election because he can get the majority of the North to vote for him. This is most uncharitable of him,” Kachikwu declared.
He then threw down the gauntlet to Atiku, urging him to publicly affirm his commitment to fairness by supporting a continued Southern presidency.
“If the former vice president says my assertions are not true and that all he wants is a better Nigeria, I then challenge him today to publicly declare that equity demands that the presidency should stay in the South for another six years,” he added.