Chicago State University Saga: Atiku Explains Why He Rejected Tinubu To Be His Running Partner
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| Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu |
Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) 2016 presidential contender, has stated that he turned down the opportunity to be President Bola Tinubu's running mate.
Additionally, Atiku stated that he never deserted Tinubu during their 2007 political alliance.
Instead, he allegedly stood up to his then-prince, President Olusegun Obasanjo, in order to prevent Lagos State from being swept away by the political tsunami of 2003.
After the former governor of Lagos State expressed interest in serving as Atiku's running mate in 2007, the two eventually revealed they had political differences.
He spoke, "I beg to disagree (on betrayal allegation) with Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yes, it is true that in 2007, we came together to form an alliance in Lagos, and at the convention, I contested and got the ticket. After I got the ticket, he sent about 5 or 6 seniors - some of them are here - I can even name them, but I don't want to embarrass them.
"They met me and said to me that Bola wanted to be my running mate. I said to them, gentlemen, you're all old enough, and apparently, virtually all of you are Christians' with the exception of one person. What will be your reaction to having a Muslim- Muslim ticket?
"All of them said we totally objected to it and I said why didn't you tell him when he was giving you the message that look Mr Tinubu, the message you're sending us, we don't seem to agree with you on it (Muslim-Muslim ticket). Why are you coming then to me? And that was the end of our political relationship. We broke away, so what is the ground for him to say that I betrayed him?
"Till today, I won't do a Muslim-Muslim ticket; I don't have to be president; we are a multi-ethnic and multi-religious people, and our government must reflect our diversity, and our composition must reflect the same."
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