Atiku: I Have Quarreled With Tinubu On Muslim-Muslim Ticket For 15 Years

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate says he has quarreled with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on the propriety of a Muslim-Muslim ticket since 2007, affirming it was the fundamental issue that caused their 2007 political separation.

Atiku in his first major interview since his emergence as the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP, also said that Tinubu’s choice of Senator Kashim Shettima from Borno State has made it easier for him to be elected as president.

Atiku spoke in an interview with Arise TV that was aired on Friday morning.

The interview anchored by the station’s The Morning Show anchors, Dr. Ruben Abati and Tundun Abiola followed interviews the station has had with Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate.

Asked of his thoughts on the Muslim-Muslim ticket flown by the All Progressives Congress, APC in Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima, Atiku said:

“My fundamental disagreement with Asiwaju since 2007 was on the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket. That was my fundamental disagreement and departure from Asiwaju.

“Together with Asiwaju, we formed ACN and I was given a ticket in Lagos and he insisted to be my running mate and I said no, I am not going to have a Muslim-Muslim ticket and because of that he switched his support to the late Umaru Yar`Adua and that was the departing point and of course.

“It is also a fact that when Buhari emerged in Lagos in 2015 that I also opposed a Muslim-Muslim ticket. I opposed it and my opposition actually reinforced the decision of President Buhari to pick a Christian running mate. So, I have all along opposed that. I don’t believe in that. I don’t believe it is right for a country like Nigeria that is multi-ethnic, multi religious that there should be balancing of interests, whether religious or otherwise.”

Asked on the possible damage of the choice of Senator Shettima from the Northeast as the running mate of the APC presidential ticket, Atiku said:

“Certainly prospects are much higher. If you know the composition of the Northeast, you have Borno and Yobe these are essentially two Kanuri states, then you have the other states which are essentially Hausa-Fulani. So, even if people are going to vote on that basis I think I have a more favourable (prospect) from the Northeast.”

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