To Hell, I Neither Need Yoruba Nor Igbo Votes to be President, Atiku Boasts

In a shocking and divisive tirade, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has prompted a widespread outrage by claiming that northerners do not need votes from the Yoruba or Igbo ethnic groups to become President of Nigeria.

The statement, made during a recent speech, has been widely condemned as a blatant attempt to further polarize the country along ethnic lines.

According to Atiku, “I have traversed all over the whole country, I know the whole of this country, I have built bridges across the whole country… I think what the ordinary northerner needs is someone who is from the North and who also understands every part of Nigeria.”

He then went on to asserted that a northern candidate is all that is needed to become President, implying that candidates from other regions are not necessary or desirable.

The implication of Atiku’s statement is that the votes and support of southerners, particularly from the Yoruba and Igbo ethnic groups, are not required for a northern candidate to win the presidency.

This has been interpreted by many as a blatant disregard for the diversity and complexity of Nigeria’s electoral landscape.

Atiku’s comments have been met with widespread criticism and outrage, with many accusing him of promoting ethnic chauvinism and regionalism.

“This is a very dangerous and divisive statement. It suggests that Atiku is not interested in building a broad-based coalition or reaching out to other regions, but rather in exploiting ethnic sentiments to further his own ambitions,” they said.

Others have pointed out that Atiku’s statement is at odds with his own record of seeking to build alliances and coalitions across regional lines. “This is a man who has consistently presented himself as a pan-Nigerian candidate, but now he is saying that northerners don’t need anyone else to become President. It’s a contradictory and confusing message that undermines his own credibility,” said a political.analyst.

The controversy surrounding Atiku’s statement has also raised questions about his commitment to national unity and his ability to lead a diverse and complex country like Nigeria.

As one commentator noted, “A President who prioritizes the interests of one region over others is unlikely to be able to build the bridges and coalitions needed to move the country forward.”

In response to the backlash, Atiku’s campaign team has attempted to clarify his statement, claiming that he was misunderstood and that his comments were taken out of context.

However, the damage may already have been done, and Atiku’s presidential ambitions may have been dealt a significant blow by his own divisive speech

As the 2027 presidential election approaches, Nigerians will be watching closely to see how Atiku and other candidates respond to the challenges facing the country, and whether they can articulate a vision for national unity and progress that transcends ethnic and regional divides. One thing is certain Atiku’s controversial statement has set a divisive tone for the campaign, and it remains to be seen how he will recover from this self-inflicted wound.