Presidency Slams Atiku's 2027 Ambition: 'Flight of Fancy!'

The Nigerian Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, launched a scathing critique on Saturday against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's anticipated 2027 presidential bid. Dare dismissed Atiku's aspirations as a “flight of fancy” driven by relentless ambition and burdened by a history of unresolved controversies. He asserted that Atiku's decades-long pursuit of the presidency had become a repetitive political pattern that has consistently failed to foster democratic inclusivity or national cohesion in Nigeria.

Dare highlighted Atiku's consistent presence as a presidential contender since Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999, noting his participation in multiple elections under various political banners, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Action Congress (AC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and now reportedly the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the upcoming 2027 general election. The presidential spokesman argued that, far from promoting national unity, Atiku’s prolonged presidential ambitions have exacerbated political tensions, inflamed ethnic divisions, and relied on divisive rhetoric, regional posturing, and religious dogmatism, rather than presenting a cohesive vision for the nation.

Furthermore, the Presidency criticized Atiku over reports of him retaining a Washington-based lobbying firm under a reported $1.2 million contract to advance his political interests in the United States. Dare contended that seeking foreign support for domestic political disagreements constitutes an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty, demonstrates a lack of confidence in the country’s democratic institutions, and undermines the significant contributions of Nigerian journalists, academics, policy analysts, and civil society organizations in shaping the nation’s democratic discourse over the years.

Dare also demanded Atiku’s “report card” from Nigerians, questioning whether the former vice president, who has long presented himself as a democrat, had instead become “a politician of many colours.” He revisited a number of longstanding allegations and controversies associated with Atiku, while acknowledging that Atiku has never been convicted or indicted by any court in Nigeria or abroad. Among the cited issues were the 2010 report of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concerning financial transactions linked to Atiku, his mention during the corruption trial of former U.S. Congressman William Jefferson, allegations surrounding the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) dispute during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, leaked audio recordings from the 2023 election cycle, questions regarding his business interests in Intels Nigeria Limited, and criticisms of the privatization program supervised during the Obasanjo administration.

Despite Atiku consistently denying any wrongdoing and the absence of criminal convictions for these allegations, Dare argued that these controversies have significantly shaped public perception of the former vice president's political career. He also claimed that the current Tinubu administration is actively addressing pension backlogs and other liabilities inherited from the privatization of public enterprises carried out during the Obasanjo-Atiku administration.

Dare characterized Atiku’s political career as “a study in relentless ambition unmoored from ideological grounding,” asserting that his journey from the Nigeria Customs Service through his tenure as vice president to his repeated presidential bids has been marked by polarizing rhetoric, enduring financial controversies, and a perceived disconnect from the diverse aspirations of the Nigerian population.

In stark contrast, Dare highlighted the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said has focused on stabilizing the economy, expanding infrastructure, implementing a new national minimum wage, and rolling out landmark social programs such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), alongside broader economic reforms. Dare concluded that while the current administration is dedicated to reforms and national development, Atiku remains fixated on and haunted by the controversies of his past. He described Atiku’s latest political maneuvers as reflecting desperation rather than statesmanship, reiterating that the former vice president’s 2027 presidential ambition amounts to “a desperate flight of fancy,” shadowed by unresolved questions from his lengthy and controversial political history.