‘Atiku will never learn’ — Tinubu’s Aide tackles Ex-VP over zoning comments

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on power rotation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mr Onanuga, in a post on X on Thursday, insisted that President Tinubu must complete two terms in office, arguing that the South should retain the presidency until 2031.

“Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own,” he said.

“All Atiku needs to do is to bury the thought of running again, as it is still the South’s turn in the 2027 election.”

Zoning dispute

Mr Onanuga accused Mr Atiku of promoting what he described as a self-serving argument aimed at disrupting Nigeria’s informal zoning arrangement.

“This Atiku will never learn. Once again, Abubakar Atiku has put forward a self-serving argument to justify his attempt to disrupt Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement,” he said.

He added that Mr Atiku had previously ignored zoning principles.

“In 2023, as a member of the PDP… Atiku disregarded the established formula and sought to succeed a fellow northerner, who had spent eight years in office. His ambition fractured the PDP, leading to his resounding defeat at the polls.”

Atiku’s position

Mr Atiku, speaking during an interview on Prime Time on Arise TV, dismissed claims of a binding national agreement on zoning.

“No, I think this is an error and a mistake to say that there is an agreement on the issue of zoning in Nigeria,” he said.

“Let me tell you, the only political party that has a zoning provision in its constitution is the PDP. All the rest don’t have it.”

While supporting the principle of rotation, Mr Atiku argued that the South has held power longer since 1999.

“If we are talking about the zoning formula in the PDP, the South has governed for 18 years and the North has governed for 10. So who is in a deficit if you want to be fair?” he said.

He also indicated support for a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

“The most practical option is to have a consensus,” Mr Atiku said, adding that he would back whoever emerges.

Further criticism

Responding, Mr Onanuga described Mr Atiku’s position as flawed.

“His political arithmetic is dubious,” he said.

“He conveniently overlooks the fact that the North’s shorter tenure was due to the untimely death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, which led to President Goodluck Jonathan’s succession.”

“This accidental breach does not invalidate the power rotation arrangement between the North and the South,” he added.