In a development that has stirred political debate, Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has publicly endorsed Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027.
The endorsement, which broke on Thursday night, has drawn widespread attention given the long-standing political rivalry between President Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, who were allies before becoming opponents on the national political stage.
Popularly known as Abba, the younger Atiku not only declared support for Tinubu but also announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He further directed members and coordinators of the Haske Atiku Organisation, a political structure mobilised for his father during the 2023 general election, to immediately align with the APC and support the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said, “My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba. I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party, where we worked in 2023, and my decision to join the APC.
“With this development, I will work to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, come 2027.”
Political Irony And Family Contrasts
The move has been described by observers as one of those moments that reinforce the saying that politics has no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.
It also recalls a similar episode ahead of the 2019 general election, when Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, endorsed Muhammadu Buhari, despite his father’s open opposition to Buhari’s re-election bid.
At the time, Obasanjo had repeatedly called on Nigerians to vote out Buhari, a position his son publicly rejected.
In a two-page endorsement letter released during the 2019 campaign, Olujonwo Obasanjo acknowledged that no human is perfect, but went on to highlight what he described as achievements of the Buhari administration, insisting that continuity was in Nigeria’s best interest.
He wrote, “The current administration has begun the process of laying a solid foundation for future generations. They have deliberated and contemplated extensively on our myriad of issues and complexity as a nation to proffer deeply rooted plans and polices to tackle and establish a strong base on which to build and consolidate upon.
“It is also important to note that this process is not without pains, but we should consider where we were, where we are and where we are going. The current administration has given hope to the common man; it is the dawn of a new age.
“I would humbly and strongly appeal that we all embrace and support Buhari’s government in his aggressive, relentless pursuit of equitable distribution of wealth and resources to the masses to aid the growth and development of our nation. He is seriously improving and empowering local farmers, industrialists, women, the SME and businessmen.
“The government is serious about development and has given new life to the steel industry, and the Buhari Administration is determined to industrialise our nation and to make us a producing nation. The revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the completion of the Baro and Lokoja ports are examples.
“The current administration has sought to address our importation of petroleum products through the relocation of refineries. These are a few examples; a whole book is needed to put the achievements and successes of the current administration into detail. The current administration has invested more in education, health, agriculture, security, and road infrastructure development to aid the growth of the economy despite receiving less revenue.
“The ingenuity of the current administration in proffering solutions is highly commendable. No human is perfect, no government is perfect; only the Creator of heaven and earth embodies perfection. We are on the right path and should not deviate.
“The youths of our great nation should join hands and support the progress and giant strides of President Buhari. He is working commendably to free us from past bondage and captivity.
“We are on the right path, but we must not go back into bondage again. I am calling on the youths of our nation to let us work together to return President Buhari to power in 2019.”