“Tinubu Asked Buhari To Choose His Wife, Oluremi, As Running Mate In 2015 After I Stopped His Own Candidacy” –  Atiku

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC ,Atiku Abubakar has disclosed how he rejected president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as his running mate owing to his opposition to Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The former Vice President narrated how Tinubu, as Lagos State Governor, sent five elders including former Osun state Governor Chief Bisi Akande ,and Chief Tom Ikimi, to lobby him to pick him as his presidential running mate ahead of the 2007 general elections.

But in a video produced in Hausa ,and shared on his official site , Atiku said he flatly rejected the move in the overall interest of the country.

He revealed that Tinubu offered to back him to secure the Presidential ticket and, after, requested to be made the presidential running mate.

“He ( Tinubu) said he would back me to secure the ticket. After I got the ticket, he sent five elders, among them Tom Ikimi ,Bisi Akande and three others.

“They told me that Tinubu wanted to be my running mate . I told them that, as Christians they should understand that it was inappropriate for me to pick a Muslim as my running mate.

“I asked them why they could not tell him that. I told them that I could not accept a Muslim-Muslim ticket because it would not be in the best interest of our country .

“He, thereafter, broke away and decided to back the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, may his soul rest in peace.

“We parted ways politically and never came in contact until in 2014 during Buhari’s campaign after winning the APC Presidential primaries.

“I returned to Abuja after the convention and late President Mohammadu Buhari visited me at my residence. He told me that he had contested the primary election and won, but needed support to win the Presidential Election proper, insisting that he cannot win without my support.

“I gave him one condition because I learnt that Tinubu wanted Buhari to pick him as running mate. I assured him I will support on the condition – that he will not run  on a Muslim-Muslim ticket. And after about five minutes,he assured me that he will not go on Muslim-Muslim ticket” Atiku stated.

Further speaking, Atiku said shortly after leaving his residence, Tinubu sent another delegation to find out from Buhari whether he was still ready to respect their agreement of picking him as his running mate.

“Tinubu became too upset when he found out that Buhari was not ready to pick him as his running mate . Later he asked Buhari to pick his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, since she is a Christian. But Buhari declined to work with a female running mate.

“Clerics were involved in the ensuing disagreement, but in the end, Tinubu was convinced to nominate Prof Yemi Osibanjo who was his Attorney -General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos state, a Christian, and Buhari accepted the nomination” Atiku added