The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are trying to set the records straight on their position on the Muslim-Muslim Ticket
Mr. Abubakar had in an interview with Arise TV on Friday morning claimed that he rejected Tinubu as his running mate in 2007 because he is opposed to fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the interest of the country’s unity.
Atiku was quoted as saying “Tinubu wanted to be my running mate when I was given the ACN presidential ticket in 2007, but I disagreed. And because of that, he switched his support to the late Umar Yaradua. That was the parting point.”
The PDP presidential candidate continued, “My fundamental disagreement and political departure with Asiwaju [Tinubu] since 2007 was due to the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Remember, I opted out of PDP because of zoning, and together with Asiwaju we formed ACN,” Abubakar said in the interview.
Those comments appeared not to have settled well with Senator Tinubu who is now accusing Abubakar of demeaning himself by pandering to base prejudice at a moment Nigeria needs true leadership.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Tunde Rahman Media aide to Senator Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate said, “We are saddened to see such a man become unhinged from the truth. So obsessed is he with his quest for office, Atiku is willing to render any form of untruth if he thinks it might gain him a single vote. Atiku may want to be president. However, all he has shown is that he is pathological.
“Whatever moral compass he had has been lost. During a 22 July television interview, Atiku assaulted historic truth by lying that he did not name Tinubu as his running mate in 2007 on the Action Congress ticket because Atiku did not want a Muslim as his running mate.”
He added “Let me say openly that Atiku offered me the vice presidential ticket in 2007. Let me also say that my religion has not changed. When he offered the position to me, I was a Muslim and I believe he was aware of my religious faith at the time.”
Shortly after that statement was released, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, faulted the position of Tinubu’s spokesman countering his (Tinubu's Spokesman) position by declaring that “We would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour-long interview like the Waziri did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk,”
Mr. Ibe continued “we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat.”
The drama unfolding between the two gladiators is a precursor of what Nigerians should expect in the days Ahead of the 2023 general elections.