Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has come under fire from Bode George, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in an attempt to win him over to his coalition campaign.
George expressed his disappointment with Atiku’s decision, emphasizing that the former vice president disregarded his party members in order to speak with Buhari, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, or APC, about his coalition agenda.
According to reports, Atiku has been urging opposition leaders nationwide to organize a large party that would overthrow President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The coalition agenda, meantime, has been refuted by the former PDP Deputy National Chairman, who said it was a ruse to undermine the party.
The PDP leader also questioned the goal of the mega party Atiku is supporting during his appearance on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” on Tuesday. He claimed that the former vice president’s appeal for a coalition was motivated by his ambition.
“Those who are now forming a mega party, what is the purpose of that mega party? You’re a member of a solid organization, you want to pull out.
“You are meeting with Baba Buhari, is he a member of our party? Have you discussed your mega something with anybody else? Do you think it is a private fiefdom? Is PDP a private company? Nobody owns the PDP. You bring it within the party. Let us discuss it. Once it is approved, then you move. You don’t just flip flop because of your personal ambition,” he said.
After claiming that Buhari trounced him “like a little kid” in the 2019 presidential election, the PDP chieftain blasted the former vice president for bringing his coalition campaign to Buhari.
The elder statesman also questioned Atiku’s motivation for visiting Buhari with his fellow northerners.
“Look at General Buhari shaking hands with these guys. Is he a member of our party? We presented you against him, and he flopped you like a little kid, and then you are running there.
“And if you look at the congregation of those who visited Buhari, they are all from one side, who are the others from our party? No, it’s not done that way. In fact, my conclusion was, What is this man trying to do with this mega party? Is he trying to divide Nigeria from the north and then the south?,” George queried.
According to him, Atiku’s approach is a ruse to seek another presidential ticket without consideration for the unwritten zoning arrangement between the northern and southern sections of the country.
