Tinubu Tackles Atiku, Says His Candidacy Burdened; Welcomes Him To Presidential Race

By Adesina Soyooye

Both men had been in the same party two times- Action Congress, AC and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

At the AC, where both Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were, Atiku was the Presidential candidate in 2011. He failed.

Now, both are again in different parties. Atiku in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where he has just secured the ticket to fly the Party’s Presidential flag.  Tinubu, in the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a Presidential aspirant. He hopes to clinch the ticket.

In anticipation that he would run against Atiku in the 2023 Presidential election, Tinubu  hailed Atiku’s victory on Saturday but told him his candidacy is “burdened”

In a statement signed by the Director Media and Communication  of his Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu congratulated Atiku on his victory in one breath, and in another breath, tackled him.

He said: “Unfortunately for the PDP, its candidate will be burdened to explain why Nigerians should give it another opportunity after squandering 16 years at the Central Government, without much to show.”

And as if he has already become the candidate of the APC, Tinubu said: “We should make our campaigns peaceful and issue-,based. Election season should be a festival of ideas that will lift our country and improve the living condition of all our people.”

The APC Presidential Primaries is scheduled for June 6 and 7. Tinubu has a formidable line of  competitors, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Following, his message to Atiku.

“I welcome the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary. I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming election. I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.

“As we move further into the election season, I charge the PDP presidential candidate and all political actors across Party lines that we should make this election season one that is devoid of bitterness, rancour and strife.

“We should make our campaigns peaceful and issue based. Election season should be a festival of ideas that will uplift our country and improve the living condition of all our people.

“Unfortunately for the PDP, its candidate will be burdened to explain why Nigerians should give it another opportunity, after squandering 16 years at the central government, without much to show”.

“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for 16 years by successive PDP administration and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP Candidate”

“ Nevertheless, I once again congratulate our former Vice President for his victory in his party’s primary.”