Retire from politics now, relocate to your second home- Presidency taunts Atiku over Fintiri’s defection to APC

Retire from politics now, relocate to your second home- Presidency taunts Atiku over Fintiri’s defection to APC

The Presidency on Friday escalated political hostilities ahead of the 2027 race, advising former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from partisan politics and relocate to his “second home in Dubai”, United Arab Emirates.

The sharp rebuke followed the reported defection of Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, a development the Presidency described as a crippling blow to Atiku’s political base.

In a post on social media, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the governor’s move had effectively dismantled Atiku’s structure in his home state and strengthened the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He wrote: “Big Blow for Atiku in Adamawa: Fintiri joins APC, making Tinubu’s party a juggernaut in the state.

“All members of his cabinet, lawmakers and other PDP officials in the state moved with him to the APC, thus fortifying the APC’s advantage and presence in the state.”

According to the Presidency, the political realignment in Adamawa has far-reaching implications for Atiku’s presidential ambition, particularly with the next general election less than a year away.

“With the presidential election less than a year away, Fintiri’s defection is surely a big blow to veteran presidential runner Atiku Abubakar,” Onanuga said.

“His ADC is largely unknown in the state. He certainly needs to reassess his ambition, as his governor has turned the APC into an Adamawa juggernaut.

“If a politician is not so popular at home, he has no business selling his candidacy to outsiders. The time is nigh for Atiku to consider retiring from politics and going to his second home in Dubai.”