Scores of Nigerians have berated the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for saying northerners need a president who hails from the North.
The former Vice President, while speaking at the interactive session of the Arewa townhall policy dialogue in Kaduna on Saturday, said the northerners don’t need an Igbo or Yoruba as president in 2023 but “someone from the north”.
Atiku, who hails from Adamawa State in the North-East, stated that he has been to every state in the country, noting that he understands the states’ peculiarities and diversities.
The PDP presidential candidate said the northerners should trust him with their votes, adding that he is the most qualified to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
He said: “I have traversed the whole of this country. I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, and who also understands the other parts of Nigeria and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.
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“This is what the northerner needs. He (northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate, or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin,” Atiku stated.
The former Vice President’s statement, however, elicited reactions from Nigerians with many lashing out at him.
Below are some of the reactions on Twitter:
Atiku is playing tribal card in the North then playing the “Unifier” card in the South.
A con man is a con man!
— Chris (@Topboychriss) October 15, 2022
Dear Atiku Abubakar, your brand of divisive politics is what keeps setting the North backward. Your statement today has infuriated a lot of Northerners.
You honestly do not embody the spirit of unity you claim to stand for.2023 will not be business unusual.
— Kowa Ishaku Yahaya (@Yahaya_IV) October 15, 2022
Like Wike said, “we are not slaves”.
I can’t believe that @atiku spat in the faces of the millions of non-northerners who support him across the country. It’s a shame that he only uses them to sell himself to his kin.
“I am one of you with access to those people”
— Jamal (@JajaPhD) October 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/odogwu_nomso/status/1581323835114414081?s=21
Nigerians from North to South must reject Atiku Abubakar.
We all must unite to save Nigeria from politicians who are willing to destroy us for their selfish political gains.
Buhari is a Northerner. The North don’t need a Northerner, the North needs a competent leader.
— Dr Hafsatu Danladi (PhD) (@NigeriaRenew) October 15, 2022
