The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, says President Bola Tinubu betrayed him politically.
Atiku disclosed that his political relationship with Tinubu ended in 2007, saying this was after he rejected moves to make the former Lagos State Governor his running mate as the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The former Vice President said these while fielding questions from journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
He stated that he rejected the choice of Tinubu because he never believed in one religion joint ticket.
Atiku said: “Where is the ground for him to say I betrayed him?
“Those of you who are old enough will remember that in 2003 the PDP took over all the states in the South-West, with the exemption of Lagos State where Tinubu was governor.
“I stood before the then President Olusegun Obasanjo and said ‘no; you can’t take Lagos State and he left it’.
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“So who is indebted to the other; is it me or Tinubu?”
The PDP presidential standard-bearer further disclosed that after the 2023 presidential election, a group of governors visited to placate him but he refused to give them an audience.
Atiku added that his quest for Tinubu’s academic records from the Chicago State University in the United States is for the enthronement of truth and morality.
He stressed that he would continue to challenge Tinubu’s election and qualification to contest until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the matter.
Atiku added: “This quest is not for or about Atiku Abubakar. It is a quest for the enthronement of truth, morality, and accountability in our public affairs.
“In line with this, I am calling on all well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought, religious, political, traditional, and community leaders to join me in this campaign.
“It is to enshrine probity, accountability, and the basic principles of justice, morality, and uprightness in our country and in our government.
“I am calling particularly on former Governors Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and leaders of every political party in Nigeria to join me.
“Indeed, I call on every single person who loves this country, as I do, and who wishes nothing but the best for the country, as I do, to join me. This is a task for each and every one of us.”
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