The Obailukan Movement read with disbelief the press statement credited to the All Progressives Congress (APC) asking His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Wazirin Adamawa, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to jettison his 2027 presidential ambition and queue behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It is shameless, arrogant, and politically illiterate. Your panic has exposed your failed record.
In politics, you only beg your opponent not to contest when you know you cannot win a free and fair contest. If APC is convinced that President Tinubu has performed, why the sleepless nights over Atiku? A government that has delivered does not issue press statements begging. It presents its scorecard. APC has no scorecard to present, only excuses. This statement is a clear admission that the ground has shifted and Nigerians are tired.
Atiku Abubakar’s right to contest is guaranteed under Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. He has served as Vice President from 1999-2007, he has built institutions, businesses and provided employment to thousands of Nigerians when APC leaders were still looking for political identity. APC cannot confer candidacy and cannot withdraw it. The decision to contest is Atiku’s personal and constitutional right, and the decision of who becomes President in 2027 belongs to over 200 million Nigerians, not to a party secretariat in Abuja.
Let us place facts on the table. Under APC, fuel price moved from N195 in May 2023 to over N1,200 today. Exchange rate collapsed from N460/$1 to over N1,700/$1. Inflation rose to over 34%. A bag of rice moved from N35,000 to N120,000. Electricity tariff tripled while supply disappeared. University fees tripled. Small businesses shut down. Debt profile increased astronomically. Is that the record APC wants Atiku to support? Should a man who built businesses support policies that kill businesses? Should a man who has a clear economic recovery plan support an administration that turned the economy into an academic exercise?
For ten years APC has governed with blame game. Jonathan was blamed, PDP was blamed, COVID was blamed, Russia-Ukraine war was blamed, now Atiku is to be blamed for not supporting failure. Enough is enough. Hunger in Ekiti, insecurity in Maiduguri, joblessness in Imo, hopelessness among common Nigerian youths – none of these were caused by Atiku. They were caused by poor leadership, misplaced priorities, extravagance and lack of empathy by the APC government.
Nigerians in 2027 do not want ragebait governance – policies that trend on X but bring tears at home. Nigerians want a leader with capacity, compassion, economic understanding and national unity credentials. Atiku Abubakar has demonstrated national acceptability across the six geopolitical zones. He has shown capacity to manage a diverse economy. He has shown tolerance and understanding of federalism. That is what Nigeria needs, not propaganda.
The Obailukan Movement states categorically that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will not drop his ambition because APC is afraid. He will not endorse failure. He will not abandon the millions of Nigerians who believe in his capacity to rescue Nigeria.
We advise APC to stop this political hallucination and face governance. Fix the economy you destroyed. Secure the lives you promised to protect. Reduce the hunger you created. That is what Nigerians elected you to do, not to be issuing quit notices to opponents.
Let 2027 be decided by Nigerians at the ballot, not by press statements from a jittery ruling party. Nigeria needs rescue, not rhetoric. Nigeria needs competence, not cosmetics. And Atiku Abubakar remains the most prepared for that rescue mission.
Signed:
Comrade James Onifade
Media Executive to Hon. Toyin Anibire Adams aka Obailukan
Founder and Convener, Obailukan Strategic Support Group for Atiku (OSSAT)
