The media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has stated that his principal is not intimidated by the political ambitions of any potential rival, including former President, Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi.

Speaking with Sunday Punch, Ibe dismissed claims that Atiku had suspended plans to pick up his African Democratic Congress (ADC) membership card because of rumoured talks between the party and Jonathan.

Ibe said, “Nothing has changed; we don’t want to give mischief-makers an opportunity. Atiku Abubakar registered as a member of the ADC in Jada Ward of Jada Local Government Area, Adamawa State, and the process is still on, so nothing has been suspended.”

According to Ibe, Atiku remains a democrat who believes in open competition and is committed to offering Nigerians an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said, “Atiku is a democrat, and he cannot be threatened by anyone’s ambition. The beauty of democracy is that the minority will have its say, and then the majority will have its way. There will always be choices.”

He accused President Bola Tinubu of “using the instruments of state to lead everybody into a one-party dictatorship” and said Atiku would not adopt such tactics.

He added, “Unlike what Tinubu is currently doing, using the instruments of state to lead everybody into a one-party dictatorship, Atiku will not be coming from where he is, where he feels that what Tinubu and the APC are doing is not democratic, and would want to prevent anyone from declaring their ambition.”

Ibe said the former vice president’s priority was to work with other Nigerians of goodwill to provide the country with a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He added, “He (Atiku) will work with other men and women of goodwill to try to give Nigerians an opportunity other than the APC and Tinubu. And then, he will not be threatened or feel threatened or worried because somebody has joined the race or decided to join the race, because all of this is just speculation.

“So, the more the merrier, it is democracy at work. I mean, let people who are throwing their hats into the ring, those who feel that they have something to offer, let them join it.

“Atiku will not feel threatened by anybody deciding on their own volition to join the race. Though we don’t want to give legitimacy to the speculations, Atiku will not be threatened by anyone, either Jonathan or any other person who has decided to join the race. The more the merrier, so that Nigerians can make informed decisions.”