Putting Differences Aside: Tinubu and Atiku Attend Jumat Together

Old Friends Reunite at Abuja Jumat Service

Atiku's criticism has been vocal...

President Tinubu meets former rival Atiku Abubakar at National Mosque in Abuja, exchanging pleasantries at Senator Danjuma Goje's daughter's wedding.

President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar put aside their political differences and exchanged warm pleasantries at the National Mosque in Abuja during Jumat prayers on Friday. This rare moment of camaraderie was witnessed by other notable attendees, including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume.

According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Jumat prayers were followed by the wedding of Danjuma Goje's daughter, the former governor of Gombe State. Onanuga described Atiku as an “old friend” to Tinubu, highlighting the cordial relationship between the two despite their recent political rivalry in the 2023 presidential election.

Onanuga's statement read, “President Tinubu meets old friend Atiku Abubakar at the National Mosque.” This meeting underscores the ability of political leaders to set aside their differences and come together in shared moments of faith and celebration.

This unexpected display of cordiality comes after Atiku publicly criticized Tinubu's administration over its economic policies, which have led to rising hunger and hardship in Nigeria.

As the country grapples with soaring inflation, costs doubling and even tripling in the last 17 months, Atiku's criticism has been vocal. Notably, he contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and finished second behind Tinubu. Despite their political differences, the two leaders showed a united front at the wedding, with Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga sharing a photo of the encounter on his X handle.

The meeting has sparked interest, given the current economic climate and the significance of this reconciliation. It raises hopes for potential cooperation between the two leaders in addressing Nigeria's challenges.