Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he is too focused on helping Nigeria recover to be distracted by comments from people he describes as political opportunists.
Atiku made this known through a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, in response to remarks by Daniel Bwala, who is now a presidential aide to Bola Tinubu. Bwala, once a spokesperson for Atiku, recently said on a TV programme that Atiku should stop “running against destiny” and forget about forming any political coalition.
Atiku said he does not need approval from those who jump from one political party to another and abandon their principles just to stay relevant.
“It is ironic that someone who once worked under Atiku is now trying to lecture him on leadership and legacy,” the statement said. It described Bwala’s remarks as “bitter” and “desperate” and suggested that he was only trying to please the current government.
Atiku also questioned why the ruling party continues to focus so much on him if they believe he no longer poses any threat. “If Atiku is truly irrelevant, why do they keep attacking him?” Paul asked.
The former Vice President made it clear that he is working with other leaders to build a strong national coalition that can take Nigeria away from its current struggles — including economic hardship, weak institutions, and political instability.
READ ALSO
“We Must Not Let Repression Define Our Democracy” — Atiku Condemns VDM’s Arrest
EFCC Breaks Silence on Probing VeryDarkMan for Alleged Financial Crimes
He added that true leadership is not about holding positions, but about having the courage to stand for what is right, even when it is unpopular. Atiku stressed that he remains committed to Nigeria and will not be swayed by what he called “political jesters pretending to be patriots.”
