Former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has argued that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may be out of touch with the current political realities in Northern Nigeria. He maintained that Atiku no longer holds the influence to dictate political direction in places like Borno and Bauchi, where strong PDP structures remain intact. Sheriff stressed that politics must be understood through the lens of people and reality—not speculation or assumptions.
He also referenced an understanding within the North to allow the South complete its two presidential terms following President Buhari’s eight-year tenure. For him, national unity and peaceful coexistence require that the South retain the presidency, regardless of whether President Tinubu seeks reelection. While acknowledging Atiku’s past contributions and leadership, Sheriff insisted that this moment calls for a more grounded and realistic reading of the political atmosphere.
He said in a recent interview with Channels TV from 46:26, “Atiku Abubakar cannot come to Borno and tell us what to do. Neither can he go to Bauchi too, because Bala is still an active member of the PDP. And Bala and his members are intact. So you see, we are talking politics. We are talking about human beings. It’s not imaginations. You can’t imagine politics. You have to look at reality. If I were him, I will not run. There is a hand written agreement in northern Nigeria that we will allow the South to do two terms because Buhari just finished eight years.
Now, Nigeria is a country that belongs to all of us. We want to live in peace. We don’t want to subjugate any region. Therefore, even if Tinubu is not running, it is still time for the South to continue for four years. Atiku is a good man. He has been a successful Vice President for eight years. He has been a businessman. He’s a good man as a person. But he’s not reading the politics correctly.
