Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
By John Egie
Chief Bode George, member of the Board of Trustees, BOT, of the PDP has given reason why Alhaji Atiku Abubakar resigned from the PDP heading to the ADC where he thinks he could grab the Presidential ticket of the coalition party for contest in 2027.
According to Bode George, Atiku Abubakar has no chance of clinching the PDP ticket until 2031 because of the existing understanding of power zoning arrangement between the North and South of Nigeria for eight years at each turn; and hence, it is practically impossible to give him the ticket.
He knows for sure that he cannot get our Presidential ticket in 2027 but has to wait till 2031 when power rotates back to the North.
Bode George made the explanation during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.
Bode George noted that Atiku has been so obsessed with an excessive ambition to become President of Nigeria without doing a deep-rooted introspection of his political life.
He said Atiku had walked that path before when he joined Bola Tinubu, now President of Nigeria, in APC and ran back to the PDP after being deceived.
In Bode George’s personal understanding of Atiku’s political trajectory, this ambition to be President of Nigeria has taken over Atiku’s inner strengths and thoughts that he no longer gives consideration to party rules and principles.
“We must obey our constitution, they manipulated the constitution in the past and all those who participated in that process have headed to the ADC.
He recalled that Atiku as VP, would have been President after Chief Olusegun Obasanjo but was perpetually deceived by Tinubu when he worked with Tinubu to make sure Obasanjo did not get a second term in office .
“When he led the team that walked out of our national convention and joined Tinubu’s party, what was he thinking? When they were beaten mercilessly he returned to the PDP.
“By 2027, he would be 81. What does he want to do at 81? He should start preparing grounds for the young ones to take over. The PDP honoured and mentored him. He was number two for eight years. What does he want? Is he the only one in this country?”
Meanwhile, The PUNCH reports that members of the Adamawa State chapter of the PDP were in high celebration over the departure of Atiku Abubakar from the party.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday in Yola, the state capital, several party leaders described Atiku’s exit as a positive development and a major boost for the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The state party chairman, Tahir Shehu, stated that Atiku’s departure carries no political setback for the party.
He stated, “Adamawa State is the home state of PDP, Atiku himself won governorship election in 1999 on the platform of the party, it was based on that he was elevated to the position of Vice President.
“The only time PDP lost the state was under President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, when a candidate was selected in Abuja, so we rejected it at the poll to prove that Adamawa voters are not based in Abuja.”
Shehu noted that following the previous crisis, the PDP successfully regained its mandate in 2019 and remained firmly in control under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, making it unbeatable in the 2027 elections.
He emphasised that Atiku’s departure would have no impact on the party’s strength in the state, given the overwhelming support it enjoyed from the people.
Similarly, a prominent party chieftain from Michika Local Government Area, Luka Tumba, described the former Vice President’s exit as a divine answer to their prayers.
“He has been an obstacle to the party during election time; the Adamawa people have not seen his political relevance from the days he was vice president and now.
“The road from Mayo-Belwa to his hometown Jada was constructed by late former President Muhammadu Buhari, but he has his private businesses across the world, we must do thanksgiving for God answering our prayers for Atiku’s timely exit.”
‘Atiku political wanderer’
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