The accusation made by Atiku Abubakar against Festus Keyamo has sparked controversy in Nigeria’s political landscape. Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, claimed that Keyamo was lobbying for his next job under Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor and current national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Keyamo currently serves as the Minister of State for Labour and Employment in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Atiku accused Keyamo of neglecting his duties as a minister and acting as Tinubu’s spokesperson. He claimed that Keyamo was suppressing the rights of innocent Nigerians who opposed the alleged fraudulent victory of Tinubu in the presidential election. Atiku’s spokesperson, Frank Shaibu, called on Keyamo to focus on his job as a minister and stop abusing the rights of Nigerian citizens.
Festus Keyamo has not responded to the accusations made against him by Atiku. However, his supporters have dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. They argue that Atiku is making these claims in an attempt to discredit Keyamo and his close ally, Tinubu.
The accusations made by Atiku against Keyamo come at a time when tensions are high in Nigeria’s political landscape. The PDP has challenged the results of the 2019 presidential election, claiming that the vote was rigged in favour of President Buhari and his APC party. The controversy surrounding the election has led to widespread protests and calls for electoral reforms in Nigeria.