Presidential hopeful Atiku Abubakar recently visited former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina state.
Although Atiku said he visited Buhari to congratulate him on the successful celebration of the 2024 Eid-el-Kabir festivity, the meeting may have been political.
Atiku may ride on the wing of the current hardship, occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petrol and other harsh economic policies of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to stand as a significant contender for the presidency in 2027 — if he decided to seek office for the seventh time.
Atiku’s unsuccessful attempts at the presidency
Atiku had, in the last 20 years, attempted — albeit unsuccessfully — to become Nigeria’s president.
He contested against Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola in the famous June 12, 1993, presidential primaries, where Abiola and Babagana Kingbe emerged as candidates of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In 2003, Atiku contested on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform.
Later, in 2011, he vied for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries against President Goodluck Jonathan and in 2015, he contested against Buhari at the general election and lost.
In 2019 and 2023, he was the PDP presidential candidate and lost the main elections.
In this report, we look at some reasons why Buhari may back Atiku in the 2027 election.
1) Northern alliance
Atiku’s recent visits to past Nigerian presidents from the north are most likely part of a plot to unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 poll.
Politically, the north is unarguably the most powerful region in Nigeria. It is the premise on which the amalgamation of Nigeria was founded. The North was to have political power, while the South had economic/commercial power. Thus, each divide (North/South) has found a way to perpetuate this consciously or unconsciously over the years.
For Those Who Missed The Visit Of His Excellency @atiku Abubakar To Former President Muhammadu Buhari, @MBuhari, Here You Have It.
— ATIKU MEDIA (@AtikuMedia2023) June 23, 2024
The Visit Which Was A Sallah Homage Presented Both Personalities An Opportunity To Catch Up And Chart Ways Forward To Deepen Nigeria’s Democracy. pic.twitter.com/3r5kWfmXPf
In the last three weeks, Atiku visited former military president General Ibrahim Babangida, former head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Buhari.
The series of visits by Atiku had political undertones, as it was the commencement of a plot to remove Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
2) Tinubu’s govt blame game
The government had faulted Buhari for the state of the nation, particularly the current economic crisis.
A former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole (now a senator representing Edo North senatorial district), also believes that Nigerians are currently suffering from what he described as former President Buhari’s “reckless policies.”
Oshiomhole, who spoke in an interview with a television station, said the hardship witnessed under the current administration was the long-term consequence of Buhari’s administration.
Some supporters of the Tinubu administration, like the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II and the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, have also blamed Buhari for the country’s current woes. This did not sit well with him (Buhari) and his staunch supporters.
3) Tinubu’s seeming lack of interest in Buhari’s appointees
On Buhari’s 2023, President Tinubu fired all service chiefs appointed by his predecessor.
Other influential principal officers who served under the Buhari administration and were disengaged by President Tinubu include Godwin Emefiele, Abdulrasheed Bawa, Babagana Monguno, and Lauretta Onochie.
