Toyyibat Qasim
The political battle ahead of the 2027 presidential election has intensified, with the Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, declaring that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will not become Nigeria’s President.
Masari, who described Atiku as a “joker”, said the former Vice President’s ambition to return to Aso Rock could not be achieved through what he characterised as desperation.
The presidential aide made the remarks in Dutse, Jigawa State, while speaking to members of the Jigawa State Academics Forum.
According to Masari, Atiku himself was aware that his 2027 presidential ambition was unrealistic.
“Even Atiku himself knows he is just joking and kidding,” Masari said.
He added that Nigerians should not be distracted by Atiku’s political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Atiku is a joker, don’t waste your time listening to him. You know desperation will not give you what you want.
“Atiku is desperate and he will not become the president of this country, inshallah,” he said.
Masari also presented the 2027 presidential contest as a choice between continuing with President Bola Tinubu’s administration and returning power to the opposition.
He described the All Progressives Congress as the country’s dominant political party, while highlighting infrastructure development, economic diversification, security and poverty reduction among areas he said the Tinubu administration was prioritising.
He also commended the Jigawa State Academics Forum for endorsing Tinubu and Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, for another term.
The comments came amid renewed exchanges between the Presidency and Atiku over economic policies and the former Vice President’s bid to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has criticised the Tinubu administration over the removal of petrol subsidy and other economic measures, arguing that rising energy and transportation costs have placed additional pressure on households and businesses.
In recent weeks, Atiku has advocated government intervention to reduce petrol prices. He has proposed a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined locally, saying the measure would lower production costs and ultimately reduce prices paid by consumers.
He has also said he would reopen Nigeria’s land borders that remain closed and introduce measures aimed at easing the movement and importation of goods if elected President in 2027.
The former Vice President’s proposals have, however, drawn criticism from the Tinubu administration and APC campaign officials.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council has challenged Atiku to explain the legal, fiscal and operational framework for his proposed petrol intervention, particularly its compatibility with the Petroleum Industry Act.
The council argued that the proposal remained insufficiently costed and required further explanation on how it would be funded and implemented.
Atiku, meanwhile, has maintained that the central issue is the effect of government policies on Nigerians’ purchasing power and living costs.
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