Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, expressed his unwavering commitment to truth and the rule of law, while speaking to the press on Monday. This statement follows the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming Bola Tinubu as the duly elected President, dismissing the appeals lodged by Atiku and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi.
Atiku Abubakar conveyed his belief that history would vindicate him for his principled stance in the realm of Nigerian politics. He recalled the critical juncture in his political career when his primary objective was to oust the military from power, ultimately advocating for civilian governance in Nigeria. He further explained, “When I joined politics, the critical challenge was kicking the military out of power so that civilian governance could be restored in Nigeria. It later became a defining struggle, and as one of the leaders of that struggle, I was targeted for elimination. Nine policemen guarding my house in Kaduna were murdered in an attempt to assassinate me. I was also forced into exile for nine months because of that incident.”
Regarding his legal action against Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials, Atiku emphasized that it wasn’t about personal interests but rather the well-being of Nigeria and its future. He stated, “It is not about me; it is about our country, Nigeria, and the future. It is about the kind of society we want to leave for the next generation and what kind of example we want to set for our children. It is about the reputation of Nigeria and Nigerians in the eyes of the world. We showed evidence that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the presidential election because he forged the qualifying academic certificate.”