Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has responded to growing public curiosity over recent political developments, particularly the defection of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying such realignments are a natural part of democratic politics.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, Atiku addressed what he described as “selective outrage” over his recent political engagements, including his visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He defended the move, arguing that freedom of association and political interaction are cornerstones of any functioning democracy.
“Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights,” Atiku stated.
“Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics. We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again.”
He criticized what he called a double standard among political commentators, noting that while some PDP figures have met with President Bola Tinubu without backlash, his own engagements with figures such as Buhari, Peter Obi, and Nasir el-Rufai have drawn undue criticism.
“When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategic alliance. But the moment I greet Peter Obi, El-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency,” he said.
Referencing historical political mergers like that of 2013, Atiku argued that consulting former leaders has always been part of political strategy.
“During the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely — including visits to Obasanjo and Babangida. So why is it now sacrilegious for me to visit Buhari in Kaduna?” he asked.
Beyond the political drama, Atiku took aim at the current administration, blaming President Tinubu’s leadership for Nigeria’s deteriorating economic conditions and social unrest.
“The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so,” he said.
Atiku argued that the coming political contest should not be viewed as a party face-off but rather a collective stand by Nigerians against what he called “an administration that has plunged the nation into untold suffering.”
He warned that the government’s alleged tactics of ethnic, religious, and regional division were distractions aimed at covering up incompetence.
“The Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on, no credible record to defend. Its only strategy is chaos and division — the last refuge of the incompetent.”
Concluding his statement, Atiku called for national unity in the face of hardship and urged citizens not to fall for political gimmicks.
“This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure,” he said.