BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar on Friday, revealed that he resisted the plot by Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2007 which led them to part ways in 2007.
Atiku specifically said that he had a quarrel with Tinubu over the propriety of a Muslim-Muslim ticket since 2007, stressing that it was the fundamental issue that caused their political separation in 2007.
Asked of his position on the Muslim-Muslim ticket flown by the APC in Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima, Atiku said he feels strongly that it was inappropriate in a multi-ethnic and religious country such as Nigeria.
In the words of Atiku; “My fundamental disagreement with Asiwaju since 2007 was on the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket. That was my fundamental disagreement and departure from Asiwaju. I resisted Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket plots twice in the past”.
Atiku, who stated these in a recorded interview on Arise TV that was aired on Friday morning, July 22, 2022, said that his fundamental disagreement with Tinubu since 2007 was on the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket, which led to his political departure from Tinubu.
The former Vice President also said that in 2007 when both of them belonged to the Action Congress (AC), during which he emerged as the presidential candidate, Tinubu insisted to be his running mate on a basis if Muslim–Muslim ticket, but he resisted and refused the plot.
He further said; “When I refused his (Tinubu) proposal, he switched his support to the late Umaru Yar’Adua. That’s the root of my political disagreement with him”.
Atiku also explained that in 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari emerged as APC’s presidential candidate, the dicey issue of Muslim–Muslim ticket rose its head again, adding that he had to vehemently oppose it again and influenced Buhari’s decision to go for a Christian running mate.
Atiku said; “I don’t believe in it (Muslim-Muslim ticket), I don’t think it’s proper. We must encourage inclusion at all times”.
He said that Tinubu’s choice of Senator Kashim Shettima from Borno State has made it easier for him to be elected as president.
The Arise Tv interview was anchored by the station’s The Morning Show anchors, Dr. Ruben Abati and Tundun Abiola.
