Atiku Tackles Age Concerns for 2027, Challenges Critics on '80 Years' Claim

Ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 presidential election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential flagbearer for the African Democratic Congress, has firmly rejected worries regarding his age. In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, published on Friday, Atiku directly addressed critics questioning his capacity for effective leadership due to his perceived advanced age.

When quizzed about whether his age might impede his ability to deliver robust and healthy governance for a full four-year term if elected, the interviewer highlighted that Atiku would be “almost or nearly 80 years old” by the time voters head to the polls in 2027. The interviewer then asked for his message to those who deem his age too significant for the nation's top office. In his response, Atiku drew a comparison to President Bola Tinubu's age before challenging the premise of the question itself.

“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?” Atiku questioned. After the interviewer corrected him, clarifying that President Tinubu had not yet reached 80, Atiku retorted, “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”

This exchange occurs as Atiku intensifies his efforts for the 2027 presidential race, seeking to consolidate opposition politicians into a formidable coalition designed to challenge the incumbent All Progressives Congress. Atiku also refuted allegations that he has become an impediment to the formation of this opposition alliance, asserting his pivotal role in initiating the group.

“That is a baseless accusation levelled against me. I was actually the one who initiated the coalition. Nobody else…I, Atiku Abubakar, started it,” he declared. He further explained that despite disagreements among some prominent opposition figures, most of the politicians who originally formed the coalition have remained united. He specifically named the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as the two significant opposition figures who had departed from the group.

“It was just Kwankwaso… he was with us at first, then he left,” Atiku stated. When asked about Obi, he confirmed, “Yes, and also Peter Obi. It’s just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work.” Nonetheless, Atiku expressed optimism about the possibility of opposition politicians collaborating before the 2027 election. “Nothing is impossible, by God’s grace. One day you’ll see… we have agreed to work together to save this country and its poor citizens, Insha Allah,” he affirmed.

The former vice president also criticised the Federal Government’s approach to the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the funds saved from the policy have not been properly accounted for. “I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku demanded. He maintained that these funds were intended to alleviate poverty, enhance education, tackle insecurity, and create opportunities for Nigerian youth. “Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” he alleged.

Atiku pledged to reinstate the petrol subsidy if elected president, while insisting that any individual who misappropriated the funds must return them. “If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he vowed. He elaborated that the subsidy could have been removed without inflicting such severe hardship on Nigerians if the savings had been judiciously utilised. “The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went. If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” Atiku remarked.

Finally, the former vice president defended his decision to not sign a peace accord involving opposition politicians, questioning why the incumbent government was not included. He stated, “Why is it always only us in the opposition that you bring to sign, but you never bring the incumbent government to sign as well?” Atiku concluded that he saw little merit in such an exercise if the ruling party was excluded. “So, if you don’t bring the incumbent government to come and sign, I see no point in going to sign it,” he asserted.