Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Dr Reuben Abati, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent remarks about ‘Yoruba interests’ ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, Dr Abati faulted Atiku’s claim that Yoruba people should not fear his presidency because he is married to a woman from Ijesha, with whom he has children.
Abati described the statement as “unfortunate” and accused Atiku of “tribalising politics,” insisting that a politician of his experience should focus on national issues rather than ethnic sentiments.
“To start with, that ethnic card should not work. It must not work. It is unacceptable to the extent that there are more serious issues on the basis of which Atiku can engage with Nigerians,” Abati said.
He stressed that Nigerians expect a presidential candidate to present solutions to pressing challenges such as oil theft, the operations of NNPC Limited, insurgency, terrorism, and controversies over state funds, instead of citing ethnic ties.
Abati further noted that Yoruba people have already produced presidents, including Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and President Bola Tinubu, and therefore do not require assurances of representation.
According to him, “On what Nigerians expect is not a president that will talk about where he comes from, or where he married from. That’s not the interest. The interest should be: what does he intend to do for Nigeria?”
He added that Atiku should address urgent concerns like oil theft, NNPC accountability, transparency in the handling of state revenues, insurgency, and terrorism, rather than attempting to appeal to ethnic emotions.
