Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has said that he does not want to be Nigeria’s president at all costs.
Atiku is one of the first persons to have declared interest to fly the flag of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, populated by opposition politicians.
However, some Nigerians have suggested that Atiku should rather support a younger person.
The former vice president has had six unsuccessful attempts to become Nigeria’s president. The 2027 presidential election will make it a record 7th time.
His supporters still believe he should be allowed to fly the ADC flag, but zoning is said to be a major issue for him, with the South just doing four years after eight years of the late former president Muhammadu Buhari, who hailed from the North like Atiku.
Atiku said, however, that his ambition is about the future of Nigeria, relaying that his focus is on securing a better, safer, and more prosperous nation.
He made this statement through a representative on Saturday, at a ceremony to welcome defectors into the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The event, held in Lagos, was graced by prominent figures from the PDP and Labour Party, LP, who were formalising their move to the ADC.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, represented by a professor at the Achievers University in Ondo, Ola Olateju, said his political journey is not about personal ambition but about building a government that delivers for the people.
“Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. It’s not about him being president. It’s about having a good government that can deliver for Nigerians.
“It’s not a personal thing for him, and that’s why some of us are with him. It’s not about Atiku having to be president at all costs.
“ADC, to us, is not a political party. It is a movement — a movement of Nigerians for a better Nigeria," he said.
Apart from Atiku, Mr Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and a former minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi have also indicated interest for the ADC presidential ticket.
