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Toyyibat Qasim
The political battle ahead of the 2027 presidential elections has intensified, with Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, declaring that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will not become Nigeria’s president.
Masari, who described Atiku as a “joker”, said the former vice president’s ambition to return to Aso Rock could not be achieved through what he described as desperation.
The presidential aide made the remarks in Dutse, Jigawa State, while speaking to members of the Jigawa State Academic Forum.
According to Masari, Atiku himself was aware that his presidential ambition for 2027 was unrealistic.
“Even Atiku himself knows he is only joking,” Masari said.
He added that Nigerians should not be distracted by Atiku’s political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Atiku is a joker, don’t waste time listening to him. You know that desperation won’t give you what you want.”
“Atiku is desperate and will not become president of this country, inshallah,” he said.
Masari also presented the 2027 presidential contest as a choice between continuing with President Bola Tinubu’s administration and returning power to the opposition.
He described the All Progressives Congress as the country’s dominant political party, while highlighting infrastructure development, economic diversification, security and poverty alleviation among the areas he said the Tinubu administration is prioritising.
He also commended the Jigawa State Academic Forum for backing Tinubu and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi for another term.
The comments came amid renewed exchanges between the Presidency and Atiku over economic policies and the former vice president’s bid to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, criticized the Tinubu administration for the removal of petrol subsidies and other economic measures, arguing that rising energy and transport costs have put further pressure on families and businesses.
In recent weeks Atiku has supported government intervention to reduce petrol prices. He proposed a transparent production subsidy for locally refined petroleum products, saying the measure would lower production costs and ultimately reduce the prices consumers pay.
He also said he would reopen Nigeria’s land borders that remain closed and introduce measures aimed at easing the movement and import of goods if elected president in 2027.
The former Vice President’s proposals, however, have drawn criticism from the Tinubu administration and APC campaign officials.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council challenged Atiku to explain the legal, fiscal and operational framework for his proposed intervention on petrol, especially its compatibility with the Petroleum Industry Act.
The council argued that the costs of the proposal remained insufficient and required further explanation of how it would be funded and implemented.
Atiku, for his part, argues that the central issue is the effect of government policies on the purchasing power and cost of living of Nigerians.
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