…Atiku’s Age is an Advantage, Says Spokesman—Nigeria in Emergency, No Time for ‘Turn by Turn’
By Jeremy Fregene
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s experience, political dexterity, and understanding of Nigeria’s deep-seated divisions make him the right choice for 2027, his spokesman, Mazi Paul Ibe, has said, dismissing age concerns and zoning sentiments as distractions in the face of what he described as a “national emergency.”
Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition has come under fire from notable political figures, including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and ADC coalition member, Dr. Katchy Ononuju, who accuse him of placing personal ambition above Nigeria’s unwritten North-South zoning arrangement.
Wike, a key figure in the G-5 Governors’ rebellion within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has repeatedly criticized Atiku’s refusal to concede the PDP ticket to the South in 2023. He accused Atiku of hypocrisy, recalling how Atiku once advocated for a South-East candidate, only to discard zoning when it didn’t favour him. Wike also questioned Atiku’s loyalty to party platforms, citing his frequent switches between the PDP, APC, and other parties ahead of election cycles.
Ononuju, a former adviser to Peter Obi, echoed similar sentiments, accusing Atiku of sabotaging efforts to build a credible opposition coalition within the ADC by refusing to accept the zoning of the presidential ticket to the South. According to him, Atiku’s moves were deceptive attempts to lure Obi into a coalition that would ultimately serve Atiku’s personal ambitions.
Wike and Ononuju are not alone. Senior members of the ADC coalition have confided in this newspaper their worry over Atiku’s plan to run for the presidency, pointing out that the very experience and stability he projects are themselves vitiated by his attempt to upend the unwritten power-sharing agreement that governs the nation’s politics.
They also point to his age— he will be 80 in 2027, the next election year— and wonder in the event that he wins, how an 80-year-old can withstand the rigours of the Nigerian presidency. Some of them privately point to the President Muhammadu Buhari years and wonder if Nigeria may not be headed for an encore of what they called “an absent-minded presidency.”
But in an exclusive interview with Keeping Them Honest Daily yesterday, Atiku’s spokesman pushed back against these criticisms, arguing that Nigeria’s current predicament requires competence over zoning. He drew parallels with global leaders, pointing to the US and Malaysia, where older presidents like Donald Trump and Mahathir Mohamad have performed admirably. “Atiku’s age is not a liability; it’s a reservoir of experience. His health is excellent, and he is mentally and physically prepared for the task,” he said.
Ibe accused Atiku’s detractors of “shopping for disqualifying factors” instead of debating his capacity and ideas. He stressed that Atiku’s leadership philosophy prioritises inclusivity, national unity, and problem-solving, citing his well-documented policy blueprints on energy, governance reforms, and economic diversification.
On policy, he explained Atiku’s belief in captive energy solutions that harness local resources to address Nigeria’s power crisis. He also outlined Atiku’s stance on decentralizing electricity generation, allowing states to develop their own power infrastructure, and integrating surplus into the national grid through private investments.
Touching on subsidy removal, the spokesman said Atiku would have implemented it differently. “Subsidies would not have been removed in one fell swoop without safety nets. He would have phased it out gradually, ensuring Nigerians, especially the vulnerable, are cushioned from the economic shock,” he said, likening the process to weaning a baby off breast milk—a delicate and gradual transition.
He blamed the current administration for implementing harsh economic reforms without adequate planning, pointing out that Tinubu’s much-touted minimum wage increase to N70,000 remains a joke amidst soaring inflation. “What’s the point of 70,000 naira when it can’t buy a bag of rice? The people who rely on subsidies were thrown under the bus,” he said.
On zoning, the spokesman acknowledged the emotional pull of regional rotation but insisted that the country’s dire situation demands a broader, nationalistic approach. “Nigeria is in a national emergency. This is not the time for parochial sentiments or whose turn it is. We need competent hands, and Atiku offers himself with a deep understanding of Nigeria’s cracks—religion, ethnicity, economic divides—and how to navigate them.”
He argued that the divisions plaguing Nigeria today are deeper than ever, with tribalism and religious bias becoming entrenched in state policies. “Atiku is not just aware of these fault lines; he’s lived them. His candidacy is about stitching Nigeria back together, not about personal entitlement or political turn-taking.”
Ibe urged Nigerians to focus on capacity, not sentiments. “Leadership is about capability, not zoning roulette. Nigeria needs steady, experienced hands, not political expediency,” he said.