The National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Garba Datti Muhammad has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai to reconsider their political paths ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Datti, a former member of the House of Representatives, specifically urged Atiku to forgo another presidential bid, stating: “As we approach the next general elections, you are at it again. Having sensed that your party, the PDP, may not cede the presidential ticket to you, you are now considering joining forces with some aggrieved politicians to form a coalition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.”

He further advised Atiku, saying, “In your best interest and the interest of Nigerians, it is better you drop the idea of contesting for president in 2027, by which time you would have already turned 80 years. The Wazirin Adamawa, you should rather remain the elder statesman that you currently are.”

Datti also urged Atiku to follow the example of another former Vice President, Arc. Muhammad Namadi Sambo, who has remained an elder statesman since leaving office in 2015.

He also cautioned Atiku not to be swayed by figures like El-Rufai, who Datti claims are attempting to lead him toward forming a coalition for the 2027 elections:

“In truth, even if you contest, you have nothing new to offer. Remember, you are also a proponent of subsidy removal. It is on record that, as Vice President, you spearheaded the privatization of some key national assets when you chaired the committee on privatization during the Obasanjo administration, while former governor El-rufai was the Director General of the Bureau for Public Privatization (BPP).”

Addressing El-Rufai, Datti expressed disappointment in his exit from the APC, despite being a founding member of the party:

“It is on record that you were part of the founding members of the APC. Having worked for the party tirelessly and served as governor under its platform for eight years, it is rather worrisome that you decided to leave APC at this critical point.”

Datti referenced El-Rufai’s past media statements, highlighting:

“While still serving as governor in 2022, during one of your media chats, you averred that ‘the moment I leave APC, then I have quit politics altogether.’ At this critical point, you should ponder and reconcile with the APC or quit politics altogether.”

He further criticized El-Rufai’s sudden turn into criticism, given that the former governor had previously stated his lack of interest in positions within the Tinubu administration:

“The world knows that it was you who announced that you were not interested in any position in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. Why should you turn to a critic overnight just because you perceived things were not going your way when you had unfettered access to the leadership of the party and the President?”

On broader political matters, Datti advised against political miscalculations, warning:

“I would like to tell you for free that no PDP governor will join the SDP because their party already has a structure on the ground. Who will leave certainty to uncertainty? You may end up committing a serious political miscalculation.”

Datti also stressed the importance of supporting the South’s eight-year tenure before considering a rotation of the presidency back to the North:

“One would expect that as a leading figure who supported the presidency to go to the South in 2023, you would support the zone to finish its eight years before canvassing for the rotation of the position to the North.”

He acknowledged the significant strides made in the North West under President Tinubu’s administration, noting:

“Currently in the North-West, we have the Speaker of the House of Representatives from Kaduna State and the Deputy President of the Senate from Kano State. It has never happened in the history of Nigeria where two Presiding Officers of the National Assembly came from the same zone.”

Datti also praised Tinubu’s efforts in reshaping the North West’s leadership:

“Additionally, the North West also got 12 ministerial appointments some of whom are manning critical ministries such as the two ministers of Defence; Budget and National Planning; Environment; two ministers of Housing; Culture and Creative Economy; Ministers of State for FCT, Education and Works etcetera. The zone also has the two Service Chiefs: the Chief of Defence Staff from Kaduna State, and the Chief of Air Staff from Kano State.”

Furthermore, Datti highlighted the improvements seen in Kaduna State, where:

“The Speaker, working in collaboration with Governor Uba Sani, has so far attracted about seven higher institutions to the state. The Speaker and Governor Uba Sani have also attracted the metro rail line (intra-city) worth about 250 billion Naira, already approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which will run from Rigachikun to Maraban Rido. This will ameliorate the transportation challenges residents of Kaduna metropolis face on a daily basis.”

He concluded by emphasizing the positive changes under the Tinubu administration, including improvements in the economy and prices:

“The Tinubu administration is also working assiduously to make life better for Nigerians following subsidy removal. Naira is now gaining strength by the day. Prices of foodstuffs are dropping drastically by the day. The economy is gradually taking a new turn.”