Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed concerns over his age ahead of the 2027 presidential election, asking critics, “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”
Atiku stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday while responding to concerns over whether his age could affect his ability to provide effective leadership if elected.
Atiku, who would be almost 80 by the time of the 2027 election, was asked whether he considered his age a disadvantage and what assurance he could give Nigerians who believed he was too old to lead the country for another four-year term.
Responding, Atiku referred to President Bola Tinubu’s age before challenging the premise of the question.
“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola (Tinubu), 90?” he asked.
When the interviewer corrected him that Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku replied: “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”
Atiku’s comments came as he intensifies efforts to mobilise opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 election, with the ADC candidate insisting that he remains committed to a coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former vice president also rejected claims that he had become a stumbling block to the opposition coalition, saying he was instrumental to its formation.
“That is a baseless accusation levelled against me. I was actually the one who initiated the coalition. Nobody else…I, Atiku Abubakar, started it,” he said.
According to him, most of the politicians who were involved in the formation of the coalition remained together despite disagreements among some of the opposition figures.
He identified former Anambra State governor and NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as the two major figures who had left the group.
“It was just Kwankwaso… he was with us at first, then he left,” Atiku said.
Asked about Obi, he added: “Yes, and also Peter Obi. It’s just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work.”
Atiku, however, said the possibility of the opposition politicians reconciling and working together ahead of the 2027 election had not been ruled out.
“Nothing is impossible, by God’s grace.
“One day you’ll see… we have agreed to work together to save this country and its poor citizens, Insha Allah,” he said.
On the petrol subsidy, Atiku criticised the Federal Government over the management of the funds saved from its removal, insisting that Nigerians had yet to see sufficient benefits from the policy.
“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku asked.
He said the savings from subsidy removal should have been channelled into reducing poverty, improving education, tackling insecurity and creating opportunities for young Nigerians.
“Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” he said.
The ADC candidate also pledged to restore the petrol subsidy if elected, while promising to recover funds allegedly misappropriated from the scheme.
“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he said.
Atiku argued that the subsidy could have been removed without subjecting Nigerians to the level of hardship currently being experienced if the savings had been properly utilised.
“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went.
“If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” Atiku said.
The former vice president also explained his decision not to sign a recent peace accord involving opposition politicians, questioning why the incumbent government was not included in the process.
“Why is it always only us in the opposition that you bring to sign, but you never bring the incumbent government to sign as well?” he asked.
Atiku said he saw little value in signing such an agreement if the ruling party was excluded.
“So, if you don’t bring the incumbent government to come and sign, I see no point in going to sign it,” he said.
