Tinubu Says Atiku Should Support Him Since He Supported Him In 2007 

Tinubu believes that rather than competing with him, Atiku should back his presidential ambition, as he did in 2007.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

Atiku Abubakar, the candidate for president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should endorse Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than seek office.

In an interactive session with the Arewa Joint Committee that was conducted at the Arewa House in Kaduna state on Monday, October 17, 2022, Tinubu made this statement.

In response to Atiku’s recent ethnocentric remark, the governing party’s presidential candidate stated he considers himself to be pan-Nigerian.

He said: “You (referring to Atiku) started from Uyo and now ended up in Kaduna and you are speaking to the North that you are the right candidate for the North; how do we reconcile that? You have lost the election.”

Further, Tinubu said that since Atiku had backed him in 2007, rather than running against him, he should support his presidential campaign.

“It’s payback time. Let Atiku endorse me instead of campaigning in Kaduna. I supported him in 2007,” he said.

The Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Jamiyyar Matan Arewa, the Center for Historical Development Research (Arewa House), and the Arewa Research and Documentation Project were present, and Tinubu declared himself to be a member of the group.

The ragtag bandits terrorizing the northern area were a threat, but Tinubu vowed his administration would put them down.

“As you are aware, security is a function of resources. I am committed to mobilizing all assets within our national power to secure Nigeria.

“We did this in Lagos through many initiatives, especially the Security Trust Fund, through which we addressed many needs of our security forces which helped to sanitize Lagos State.

“As you may recall, when I assumed office as governor in 1999, the situation I met was basically a case of banditry where urban gangs ruled the streets.

“I returned law and order, tamed what could have been a huge ethnic war, and made Lagos one of the safest states in Nigeria. I will replicate that across the country,” he said.

He said that, under his direction, the Nigerian military will get a much-needed boost of trained soldiers to support the valiant efforts of the troops already on duty.