“Focus On Your Traditional Title Given Your Age And Health” — Kwankwaso Asks Atiku To Quit 2027 Race, Says ‘We’ll Take Good Care Of Him’

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, citing his age and health and asking him to devote greater attention to his traditional responsibilities as the Waziri of Adamawa.
Kwankwaso made the remarks while receiving members of the Fulani Farmers Association at his Abuja residence, where he appealed to Atiku’s supporters to persuade the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate to step aside from the contest.
Addressing the visitors, Kwankwaso asked them to convey the message to Atiku in Fulani.
“Go to the Wazirin of Adamawa’s house and tell him in Fulani that he needs to focus on his traditional title of Wazirin, given his age and health,” he said.
Kwankwaso further said that should the NDC succeed in the 2027 election, Atiku would be properly cared for.
“If Allah grants us success, we will take good care of him, especially since you all come from Adamawa. An apology should be offered to him,” he added.
The remarks add another dimension to the contest among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Atiku seeking another opportunity to lead the country.
Atiku had in April acknowledged that the 2027 election could be his final attempt at the presidency, citing his age and the importance he attaches to the contest.
Asked whether turning 80 by 2027 made the stakes higher for him, Atiku replied: “Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher and I believe that will be my last outing.”
The former vice-president has made several attempts to become Nigeria’s president over the decades.
In 1993, Atiku participated in the presidential primaries of the defunct Social Democratic Party before stepping down for the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
He subsequently contested the 2007 presidential election on the platform of the Action Congress, losing to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
In 2011, he again sought the presidency but lost the contest that ultimately returned then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Atiku later returned to the Peoples Democratic Party and emerged as its presidential candidate in 2019, losing the election to then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
He again flew the PDP flag in the 2023 presidential election, which was won by President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Now running on the platform of the ADC for 2027, Atiku has indicated that the coming contest is likely to be his last presidential bid.
Kwankwaso’s intervention, however, suggests that the NDC vice-presidential candidate believes the former vice-president should end his presidential ambition before the election and concentrate on his traditional role.
Atiku has over the years presented himself as an advocate of restructuring, economic liberalisation and private sector-driven economic growth.
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