Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition remains valid, says Paul Ibe, who slams Festus Keyamo’s criticism as sycophantic and politically motivated
Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition has again sparked political debate following his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and alignment with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Also read: Keyamo Slams Atiku Over PDP Resignation During Buhari’s Mourning
His spokesman, Paul Ibe, has now launched a firm defence of the former vice president’s right to seek the presidency, while criticising Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo’s public attacks as “sycophantic.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, Ibe described Keyamo’s recent accusations as misplaced and irrelevant.
“Where was Keyamo when Atiku Abubakar was in the frontline battling the military?” Ibe asked. “He is just playing to the gallery. Sycophancy is the end game.”
Keyamo had accused Atiku of impersonation for using the Nigerian Coat of Arms in correspondence after his defection from the PDP.
But Ibe dismissed the allegation, stating, “Nobody is impersonating anybody. Atiku Abubakar is a former vice president. That is known.”
The former PDP presidential candidate, who came second in the 2023 general election, is believed to be preparing another attempt at the presidency under a newly formed opposition coalition.
On Wednesday, reports emerged confirming Atiku’s official move to the ADC, a bloc seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Ibe rebutted suggestions that Atiku was too old to run again. “Atiku Abubakar too old? Says who?” he asked.
“The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, is 79, and we are modelling our democracy after theirs.”
On whether Atiku would remain in the ADC permanently, Ibe said the future is open-ended but promising.
There is nothing wrong with ambitions… Atiku Abubakar does not have a faulty ambition.
“Mr Atiku Abubakar will determine that. I believe that the coalition offers a great prospect to reclaim and to rebuild Nigeria.”
He added that the former vice president’s ambition was both legitimate and necessary, given the state of the nation.
“There is nothing wrong with ambitions. All of us, as human beings, we all have ambitions. What is wrong is a faulty ambition and Atiku Abubakar does not have a faulty ambition; he has a genuine ambition to improve the lot of Nigerians.”
Cautioning Keyamo to refocus his priorities, Ibe urged the aviation minister to attend to challenges in his sector.
“It is unfortunate that Minister Keyamo is majoring on minors, and this gives an indication of how he runs the Ministry of Aviation,” he said.
“He has a whole lot on his plate—runways, airport infrastructure, broken toilets—and still finds time to discuss the PDP.”
Ibe also accused the APC-led administration of eroding democratic values.
“In the last two years, we have seen a deterioration of our democratic process. Instruments of state are used to coerce politicians into the APC. This is not what democracy is about; democracy is about people making choices.”
He concluded by reiterating Atiku’s continued relevance.
“He is not going to resign from politics; he has said that clearly. For as long as God engraces him with good health, with strength, with vitality, with the acumen and requisite skill, he will continue to be there to provide whatever he can provide in moving this country forward.”
“There is nothing wrong with ambitions… Atiku Abubakar does not have a faulty ambition,” Ibe insisted.
Also read: PDP Stronger After Atiku’s exit, Lagos Chieftain Insists on Party Revival
Atiku Abubakar presidential ambition, it seems, remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s opposition politics as 2027 approaches.
