African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has hit back at concerns over his age ahead of the 2027 presidential election, challenging critics to judge him by his appearance and capacity rather than his years.
Atiku spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday, where he was asked whether his age could affect his ability to provide effective leadership for a four-year presidential term.
The interviewer pointed out that Atiku would be “almost or nearly 80 years old” by the 2027 election and asked what he would tell Nigerians who considered him too old to become president.
Atiku responded by drawing a comparison with President Bola Tinubu.
“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?” he asked.
After the interviewer corrected him that Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku replied:
“Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”
The former vice president is currently intensifying efforts to build an opposition coalition capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Atiku also rejected allegations that he had become an obstacle to the opposition coalition, insisting that he was the one who initiated the alliance.
“That is a baseless accusation levelled against me. I was actually the one who initiated the coalition. Nobody else…I, Atiku Abubakar, started it,” he said.
He said most of the politicians who initially formed the coalition remained committed to the project, despite disagreements involving some opposition figures.
According to Atiku, NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were the major figures who had left the group.
“It was just Kwankwaso… he was with us at first, then he left,” Atiku said.
Asked about Obi, he added, “Yes, and also Peter Obi. It’s just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work.”
Atiku, however, left the door open for the opposition figures to reunite before the 2027 election.
“Nothing is impossible, by God’s grace.
“One day you’ll see… we have agreed to work together to save this country and its poor citizens, Insha Allah,” he said.
The former vice president also took aim at the Federal Government over the removal of the petrol subsidy, questioning what happened to the money saved from the policy.
“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku asked.
He argued that the savings should have been channelled into tackling poverty, improving education, fighting insecurity and creating opportunities for young Nigerians.
“Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” he said.
Atiku further promised that, if elected president in 2027, he would restore the petrol subsidy and demand the recovery of funds allegedly stolen from the system.
“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he said.
He maintained that subsidy removal did not necessarily have to result in the level of hardship Nigerians are currently experiencing if the savings had been properly invested.
“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went.
“If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” Atiku said.
Atiku also defended his decision not to sign a peace accord involving opposition politicians, questioning why the incumbent government was not included in the agreement.
He said, “Why is it always only us in the opposition that you bring to sign, but you never bring the incumbent government to sign as well?”
He said he saw little reason to participate in the exercise if the ruling party was excluded.
“So, if you don’t bring the incumbent government to come and sign, I see no point in going to sign it,” he said.
