By Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja
Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Atiku Abubakar, has lashed out at Nigerians criticizing his recent political engagements, labeling them as hypocrites engaging in selective outrage.
In a statement on his social media account on Friday, Atiku responded to the backlash he received after visiting former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, as well as his interactions with political figures like Peter Obi (Labour Party) and Nasir el-Rufai (APC).
Atiku emphasised that defections, alliances, and consultations are normal in a democracy, questioning why his actions were being scrutinized while similar moves by other politicians were ignored.
“Freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy—they are fundamental rights,” he stated. “I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment. Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics.”
He reminded critics that during the 2013 opposition merger that birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC), key leaders, including President Bola Tinubu and Buhari, consulted widely—even visiting former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida.
“So why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna?” he asked.
Atiku accused his detractors of applying double standards, pointing out that while PDP leaders engage in behind-the-scenes negotiations with President Tinubu’s government, his own public engagements are met with fierce criticism.
“When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategic alliance. But the moment I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency,” he said. “Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable!”
Shifting focus to national issues, Atiku declared that the real political battle is not between the APC, PDP, or Labour Party, but between Nigerians and an administration that has “plunged the nation into untold suffering.”
“The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired—they are angry, and rightfully so,” he stated.
He warned against distractions fueled by ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments, describing them as tools of manipulation used by those who have failed to deliver good governance.
“The Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on, no credible record to defend. Its only strategy is chaos and division, because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent,” he asserted.
In a scathing conclusion, Atiku likened President Tinubu’s leadership to an incompetent ship captain, warning that his failures do not only affect his political allies but the entire nation.
“An incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board,” he said.
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