Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has downplayed worries about his age by asking detractors if he appears to be getting close to 80.
In an interview that was released on Friday, Atiku made this statement in response to worries that his advanced age could limit his capacity to lead effectively if elected.
The former vise president was answering a question about whether his advanced age would limit his capacity to lead effectively and healthily for four years if elected.
By the time Nigerians cast their ballots in 2027, Atiku would be “almost or nearly 80 years old,” according to the interviewer, who also asked him what he would say to those who thought he was too old to be president.
In response, Atiku made reference to President Bola Tinubu’s age before contesting the question’s premise.
“You went and cast your ballot for an 80-year-old—I mean, 90-year-old. “Is President Bola ninety years old?” he inquired.
“Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?” Atiku asked in response to the interviewer’s correction that Tinubu was not yet 80.
The conversation takes place as Atiku works to unite opposition leaders behind a coalition to oppose the ruling All Progressives Congress and steps up preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Additionally, Atiku denied that he had turned into a hindrance to the opposition alliance, claiming that he had played a crucial role in uniting the group.
“That is an unfounded charge made against me. The coalition was actually started by myself. No one else…”I, Atiku Abubakar, initiated it,” he declared.
Despite conflicts among some of the leading opposition figures, he claimed that the majority of the lawmakers who formed the alliance stayed together.
He named two prominent opposition figures who had left the NDC: Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his running mate.
Atiku remarked, “It was just Kwankwaso. He was with us at first, then he left.”
He responded, “Yes, and also Peter Obi,” when asked about Obi. The rest of us are still here, carrying on with our business; it’s just them.
However, Atiku stated that the opposition politicians might yet cooperate prior to the 2027 election.
By God’s grace, nothing is impossible.
He declared, “One day you’ll see… we have agreed to work together to save this country and its poor citizens, Insha Allah.”
The former vise president also took issue with how the Federal Government handled the elimination of the gasoline subsidy, claiming that the policy’s savings had not been sufficiently taken into consideration.
“I didn’t object to the oil subsidy being eliminated, but where is the money? What happened to it? Atiku inquired.
According to him, the money was intended to alleviate poverty, enhance education, deal with insecurity, and provide young Nigerians opportunity.
“Now, where is the money? He remarked, “It looks like they are just stealing it.”
If elected president, Atiku also pledged to reinstate the gasoline subsidy and demand that those who had embezzled the funds return the money.
He declared, “If elected, I will restore the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must reimburse it.”
He added that if the savings had been spent appropriately, the subsidy might have been eliminated without incurring the degree of misery that Nigerians are currently facing.
“We don’t know where the money went, but the government was successful in eliminating the subsidies.
“It would be different if they had used the money for development, to solve security issues, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth,” Atiku stated.
The former vise president also defended his refusal to sign a peace deal with opposition leaders, stating that he didn’t understand why the current administration wasn’t involved.
“Why do you only ever bring us in the opposition to sign, but you never bring the incumbent government to sign as well?” he said.
Atiku noted that he saw little value in the exercise if the ruling party was excluded.
“So, I see no point in going to sign it if you don’t bring the incumbent government to come and sign,” he remarked.
