Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that the 2027 general elections will serve as a national referendum on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The assertion was made by Atiku’s media adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, during an interview with Vanguard in Abuja on Monday night.
Ibe’s comments came in response to recent allegations by the ruling All Progressives Congress, which accused Atiku of attempting to reposition the opposition for personal gain. The APC claimed that Atiku sought to regain access to state resources, an allegation Ibe strongly dismissed.
“It’s clear that these people were never prepared for governance. All they’re interested in is politics,” Ibe said. “They’ve gone to extreme lengths to ensure the demise of progress. Every action they’ve taken contradicts the very essence of democracy.”
He criticized the Tinubu administration’s performance, citing the completion of only 30 kilometres of a 700-kilometre road project in two years as an example of inefficiency.
“They rolled out all the drums and celebrated completing a mere 4% of the project. Isn’t that absurd? Such irresponsibility! The money spent on that celebration could have been used to build several more kilometres of that road,” he exclaimed.
Ibe further highlighted Nigeria’s deteriorating socio-economic conditions, noting that the country has become the poverty capital of the world and now leads Africa in child malnutrition.
“People are hungry. For the first time, even those who can afford to buy a ram for Eid can be counted on one hand. Someone told me people are pooling money together just to buy a ram and partake in the celebration,” he lamented.
Emphasizing Atiku’s motivations, Ibe stated that the former vice president’s actions were driven by Nigerians’ aspirations for a better life, not personal ambition.
“His Excellency’s efforts are driven by Nigerians’ yearnings for a better life, not because he wants to regain access to state resources. Absolutely not,” he said.
Defending Atiku’s integrity, Ibe contrasted his business achievements with the records of his critics. “Where were these critics when His Excellency was already well-established long before democracy began in 1999? Atiku has run multi-million-dollar businesses, employed people, and invested his own resources into his campaigns. He’s not looking to exploit state funds like they are,” he stated.
Ibe urged the APC to focus on governance rather than fixating on Atiku’s activities. “It’s time they used the remainder of their term to focus on improving Nigerians’ lives instead of obsessing over what Atiku Abubakar is or isn’t doing,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2027, Ibe declared that the elections would be a defining moment for Nigeria. “The next election will be between Tinubu and the rest of Nigeria,” he asserted.
