“If ADC Gives Atiku Ticket, It Means It Doesn’t Think South Should Retain Power” – Minister Musawa

By Adesina Soyooye

“Fielding Obi as Presidential candidate is the fastest way for the opposition to lose in 2027” – Tinubu’s Minister

Hannatu Musawa, the Honourable Minister for Art, Culture and Tourism, has written off both the 2023 Presidential Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and that of  Labour Party, Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, as no threat, at all, to the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Both Atiku and Obi are chieftains of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

While she said she respects Atiku, she noted Atiku is no march for Tinubu. But importantly, she argued that if the  ADC gives Atiku, a Northerner, the ticket, it only means that the Party does not believe the South is capable of occupying Nigeria’s top job.

Tinubu, a Southerner, succeeded late President Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, after eight years in office. But Obi, is of the South and is also aspiring to the Presidential seat, currently occupied by Tinubu.

Problem is Minister Musawa does not think much of Obi’s strength if he runs. To her,  fielding Obi should be a no-no for the ADC because it is the fastest way for the Party to lose the election.

The Minister expressed these views when she spoke with Seun Okinbaloye on the current edition of Mic One Podcast.

She said: “I don’t think Atiku is a march for Tinubu but he is a formidable opponent. Atiku, as much as I admire him as a patriot, I don’t think he is a march for Tinubu.”

She is, also, of the opinion that if the former Vice President becomes ADC’s candidate, it shows that it doesn’t recognize that it is okay for the South to remain in power.

She said: “And if it’s Atiku on that ticket, it means the ADC doesn’t recognize that the South should retain power.

On Obi flying the ADC Presidential ticket, Musawa said that is the fastest way for the opposition to lose the election.

Her words: “If Peter Obi is on the ticket as the Presidential Candidate, that is the fastest way the opposition is going to lose this election. I promise you.”

The trio of Tinubu, Atiku and Obi contested for the Presidential race in 2023. It was a close race as the three of them outrightly won the same number of States. But Tinubu carried the day not only because he had more spread than Atiku and Obi, he also had more number of votes, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.