Atiku also insisted he never betrayed Tinubu during their political alignment in 2007.
According to him, instead, he stood up to his then-principal, President Olusegun Obasanjo, to make sure Lagos State did not fall to the political tsunami of 2003.
Atiku then revealed he and Tinubu parted ways politically after the former Lagos State governor wanted to be his running mate in 2007.
He said, “I beg to disagree (on betrayal allegation) with Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yes, it is true that in 2007, we came together to form an alliance in Lagos, and at the convention, I contested and got the ticket. After I got the ticket, he sent about 5 or 6 seniors – some of them are here – I can even name them, but I don’t want to embarrass them.
“They met me and said to me that Bola wanted to be my running mate. I said to them, gentlemen, you’re all old enough, and apparently, virtually all of you are Christians’ with the exception of one person. What will be your reaction to having a Muslim-Muslim ticket?
“All of them said we totally objected to it and I said why didn’t you tell him when he was giving you the message that look Mr Tinubu, the message you’re sending us, we don’t seem to agree with you on it (Muslim-Muslim ticket). Why are you coming then to me? And that was the end of our political relationship. We broke away, so what is the ground for him to say that I betrayed him?
“Till today, I won’t do a Muslim-Muslim ticket; I don’t have to be president; we are a multi-ethnic and multi-religious people, and our government must reflect our diversity, and our composition must reflect the same.”
According to him, instead, he stood up to his then-principal, President Olusegun Obasanjo, to make sure Lagos State did not fall to the political tsunami of 2003.
Atiku then revealed he and Tinubu parted ways politically after the former Lagos State governor wanted to be his running mate in 2007.
He said, “I beg to disagree (on betrayal allegation) with Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yes, it is true that in 2007, we came together to form an alliance in Lagos, and at the convention, I contested and got the ticket. After I got the ticket, he sent about 5 or 6 seniors – some of them are here – I can even name them, but I don’t want to embarrass them.
“They met me and said to me that Bola wanted to be my running mate. I said to them, gentlemen, you’re all old enough, and apparently, virtually all of you are Christians’ with the exception of one person. What will be your reaction to having a Muslim-Muslim ticket?
“All of them said we totally objected to it and I said why didn’t you tell him when he was giving you the message that look Mr Tinubu, the message you’re sending us, we don’t seem to agree with you on it (Muslim-Muslim ticket). Why are you coming then to me? And that was the end of our political relationship. We broke away, so what is the ground for him to say that I betrayed him?
“Till today, I won’t do a Muslim-Muslim ticket; I don’t have to be president; we are a multi-ethnic and multi-religious people, and our government must reflect our diversity, and our composition must reflect the same.”
From Dailypost
Atiku is no saint but one thing you can't take away from him is his conviction on a thing. The same Muslim joint tickets he refused, years later Tinubu jumped on it and brought it into government.
ReplyDeleteWhen people says Tinubu did Atiku a favour, I always look out to see, read or hear the favour(s) he rendered to Atiku Abubakar but none I have read or heard. I challenge anyone here to point out those favours to us so that I can personally commend him and appreciate that kindness from him.
Yet the Muslim Muslim ticket Atiku rejected is what was forcefully brought upon us. I wonder why this is happening since its not only Muslims that we have in this country.
ReplyDeletePls God bless my hustle let me and my family see money and Japa.
Stop playing sentiments with Nigerians which one is Muslim-Muslim card. Please stop it! Politicians will say whatever they think the populace wants to hear. For someone that could not take a stand on when a Christian student was killed in the North. I'd rather he looked at the killing of Deborah from "humanity stand point" and stuck with it. This is not absolving the sitting president on his lack of integrity or quest for power at all cost. They have proven to be on the same standing, just that their tactics are different.
ReplyDeleteOf course the international community should not even think of stepping in because its to their greater benefit.
Athtiku oo,tinubu,all politicians are thieves nd they are all same thing,imagine apc sharing 2derica of rice to landlord only in abeokuta,wat abt tenant nd other citizen,may God punish those that campaign,nd vote bad government all the time,politicians don't love the citizens,yet they kill themselves during elections
ReplyDelete