2027: Atiku can’t unite Adamawa, let alone Nigeria — Shettima
Vice President Questions Atiku Abubakar’s Ability to Unite Nigeria
By Adegboyega Adeleye
AKURE, Nigeria — Vice President Kashim Shettima questioned the ability of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to unify Nigeria, citing a lack of political consensus in Abubakar’s home state of Adamawa.
Shettima made his remarks during a campaign rally for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, on Wednesday. He contrasted the weak opposition support in both Adamawa and Anambra states with the robust backing for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo.
According to Shettima, the political landscapes in these three states illustrate the differences in support for Tinubu compared to Abubakar’s candidacy. He noted that since the return to democracy in 1999, Abubakar has failed to secure the backing of any of Adamawa’s five governors.
“Our political opponents can conduct rallies on social media, but for someone who cannot build a consensus at home—Atiku Abubakar is from Adamawa State—he has not succeeded in creating a lead consensus, even in his own state,” Shettima said.
He detailed how none of the five governors who have led Adamawa—Boni Haruna, Murtala Nyako, Bala Ngilari, Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla, and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri—are aligned with Abubakar.
Additionally, Shettima listed prominent political figures in Adamawa who do not support the ADC candidate. “All the political mavericks in Adamawa, from former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha to Engineer Babachir David Lawal, to Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani), are not aligned with Atiku,” he said.
Shettima further cited the presence of three gubernatorial candidates in Adamawa as evidence of political division, questioning Abubakar’s capacity to unify Nigeria. “If he cannot unite his own state, I wonder how he is going to unite the nation,” he remarked.
In contrast, Shettima praised the support for Tinubu in Ondo, describing the rally turnout as a sign of overwhelming backing for the President’s re-election. “In Ondo, the game is over. Nothing less is expected from Ondo, and we are eternally grateful to the people of Ondo for the massive turnout,” he stated.
Shettima also criticized National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Peter Obi for what he described as “clout chasing” following Obi’s gesture of welcoming Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at Abuja airport. He emphasized the importance of grassroots support in pursuing the presidency, suggesting that mere appearances do not equate to political viability.
He further questioned Obi’s political alliances in Anambra, asking whether any former governors, including Chris Ngige and Willie Obiano, or the incumbent Charles Soludo, were aligned with him.
“Is Chris Ngige with him? The answer is no. Is Willie Obiano with him? The answer is no. Is my friend Charles Soludo with him? The answer is no,” Shettima said.
Returning to his focus on Ondo, the Vice President asserted that Tinubu’s support reflects a broad political consensus, citing endorsements from notable figures, including former Governor Olusegun Mimiko and lawyer Olushola Oke. He also mentioned the alignment of the late Governor Adebayo Adefarati’s family with the APC.
“For the people of Ondo, there is a universal elite consensus marking the president’s presence here. Former Governor Olusegun Mimiko is firmly on board. The last opponent, very popular Olushola Oke SAN, is aligned with the president’s ambition,” Shettima said.
