The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has stated that Atiku Abubakar has been contesting for the presidency since he was 19 years old.
During an interview with TVC News, Adebayo noted that if he were to invite Atiku to join the SDP, he doubted the former vice president would take offence.
He noted that Atiku is not reliant on him or anyone else, including Nasir El-Rufai for political direction.
Speaking further, he stated that El-Rufai does not participate in meetings as a representative of the SDP and, to his knowledge, has never claimed to hold a mandate from the party.
He described El-Rufai as an honourable man who simply invites people to join the SDP but does not impose any direction on them. According to Adebayo, many of those El-Rufai engages with including Atiku are aware of their political interests and do not require guidance from others.
Adebayo noted that Atiku is experienced and independent-minded, having pursued the presidency for decades.
The relevant portion of the interview can be viewed from 21:49 to 22:58.
He said, “I don’t think in all of those meetings, he (El-Rufai) goes there as a leader of the SDP. He himself, being an honourable man, has never said to anyone that he has the mandate of the SDP. He has been telling people, come and join the SDP. Many of those people he has been talking to, they have their own interests, they know where they want to go, they don’t need anyone to tell them. If I see Atiku Abubakar and I say, Your Excellency, come and join my party, I don’t think he will be offended, but I don’t think he is waiting for me to come and tell him what to do. He has been running for president since I was 19 years old, he knows where he is going. He doesn’t need me to tell him, and I don’t think he needs El-Rufai to tell him where to go as well.
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