Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar believes that the 2027 general elections will represent a national judgment on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This stance was revealed by his media adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, during a conversation with Vanguard in Abuja on Monday evening.
Ibe was reacting to recent allegations made by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which accused Atiku of attempting to reshape the opposition for self-serving reasons, claiming he was motivated by a desire to regain control of public funds.
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Responding to these claims, Ibe refuted the APC’s assertions, insisting that Atiku’s political engagements are aligned with the widespread demand among Nigerians for improved governance and quality of life.
“It’s clear that these people were never prepared for governance. All they’re interested in is politics.
“They’ve gone to extreme lengths to ensure the demise of progress. Every action they’ve taken contradicts the very essence of democracy,” he said.
Ibe criticized the Tinubu-led government’s track record, highlighting what he described as a gross underperformance. He cited a highway project where only 30 kilometers out of a planned 700 were completed over two years.
“They rolled out all the drums and celebrated completing a mere 4% of the project. Isn’t that absurd? Such irresponsibility! The money spent on that celebration could have been used to build several more kilometres of that road,” he exclaimed.
He also drew attention to the escalating economic hardship across the country, lamenting that Nigeria now ranks as the global epicenter of poverty and leads the African continent in child malnutrition.
“People are hungry. For the first time, even those who can afford to buy a ram for Eid can be counted on one hand. Someone told me people are pooling money together just to buy a ram and partake in the celebration,” he lamented.
Reaffirming Atiku’s motivations, Ibe stressed that his principal’s political moves are not about personal enrichment but are a response to the nation’s collective demand for better leadership.
“His Excellency’s efforts are driven by Nigerians’ yearnings for a better life, not because he wants to regain access to state resources. Absolutely not,” he said.
He went further to defend Atiku’s personal and professional credibility, contrasting his business accomplishments with those of his detractors.
“Where were these critics when His Excellency was already well-established long before democracy began in 1999? Atiku has run multi-million-dollar businesses, employed people, and invested his own resources into his campaigns. He’s not looking to exploit state funds like they are,” Ibe stated.
Ibe called on the APC to shift its focus from attacking Atiku to addressing the real issues facing Nigerians.“It’s time they used the remainder of their term to focus on improving Nigerians’ lives instead of obsessing over what Atiku Abubakar is or isn’t doing,” he said.
According to him, the next election will not just be another political contest but a pivotal moment that will determine the country’s direction.
“The next election will be between Tinubu and the rest of Nigeria,” he declared.
