Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed claims that he is desperate to become Nigeria’s president in 2027, insisting that his priority is a secure and prosperous nation.
Speaking on Saturday at a ceremony in Lagos to welcome defectors into the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election said his interest lies in building a movement for good governance.
He was represented at the event by Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State.
“Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. So, it’s not about him being the president. It’s about having a better government, a good government, that will be able to deliver for Nigerians,” Olateju said.
“It’s not a personal thing for him, and that’s why some of us are with him. It’s not about Atiku having to be president at all costs. ADC, to us, is not a political party.
It is a movement a movement of Nigerians for a better Nigeria.”
According to him, the movement within the ADC is aimed at repositioning the country. “It’s no longer politics as usual. It’s a new beginning.
It is a new journey… The must is for him to see Nigeria deliver as wished by all. We want Nigeria to be able to take care of Nigerians,” Olateju added.
Atiku stressed that a better Nigeria was achievable with good leadership, noting that the party’s presidential flag bearer in 2027 would be chosen by members.
He also warned that any government that fails to prioritise the welfare of its citizens risks collapse. “There is a limit to how much the people can be squeezed and pushed before something eventually gives,” he cautioned.
Former Minister of Interior and ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, also underscored the urgency of the party’s mission, declaring that Nigeria must be rescued from its current challenges.
“This is why our mission is urgent and our intervention has become absolutely necessary. We must act now to save the nation,” he said.
Aregbesola, who also served as governor of Osun State, expressed confidence in the growing momentum of the ADC, noting that citizens and politicians across party lines are joining the movement.
He described the surge as evidence that Nigerians are ready to embrace a new political direction.
