Atiku Narrates Turning Down Tinubu's VP Ambition Over Muslim-Muslim Ticket

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has recently opened up about a past instance where he declined an offer from then-Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, to serve as his running mate. Atiku explained his decision stemmed from his principled opposition to a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, which he believed was not in the nation's best interest. His revelations were made during a Hausa-language video interview that has since been circulated on X.

Atiku recounted how, after securing a presidential ticket, several elders approached him regarding Tinubu's interest in the vice-presidential slot. He detailed that Tinubu had dispatched a delegation of five prominent figures, including Tom Ikimi, Bisi Akande, and three others, to discuss the matter with him. Atiku quoted Tinubu as having initially said, "He said he would back me to secure the ticket."

After he successfully obtained the ticket, Atiku further elaborated, these five elders informed him of Tinubu's aspiration to become his running mate. Atiku's response to the delegation was direct: "I told them that, as Christians they should understand that it was inappropriate for me to pick a Muslim as my running mate." He questioned why they hadn't conveyed this sentiment to Tinubu themselves. Atiku emphasized, "I told them that I could not accept a Muslim-Muslim ticket, because it would not be of the best interest of our country." This disagreement, he noted, led to a political divergence, with Tinubu subsequently throwing his support behind the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

Atiku mentioned that their political paths remained separate until 2014, when they reconnected during the campaign for then-candidate Muhammadu Buhari. He recounted a visit from the late President Buhari to his Abuja residence after a convention. Buhari, having won the primary election, sought Atiku's support for the general election, acknowledging he couldn't secure victory without it.

Atiku then detailed the crucial condition he imposed: "I gave him one condition because I learnt that Tinubu wanted Buhari to pick him as his running mate. I assured him I will support on the condition that he will not do Muslim-Muslim ticket." After a brief moment of reflection, approximately five minutes, Buhari assented to the condition.

Following Buhari's departure, Atiku revealed that Tinubu's representatives visited Buhari to inquire about their agreement regarding Tinubu's potential selection as running mate. Atiku stated, "Tinubu was so upset, saying that Buhari had not kept his promise, and so on." He added that Tinubu was eventually placated. Later, Tinubu proposed that Buhari consider his wife, who is a Christian, as a running mate, but Buhari rejected the idea of a female vice-presidential candidate.

The ensuing disagreement involved religious clerics, but ultimately, Tinubu was persuaded to nominate Professor Yemi Osinbajo, his then-Attorney-General and a Christian, a choice that Buhari accepted.