2023: Why Atiku Cannot Win — Shettima

The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, has given reasons why he thinks the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar, will not win the 2023 election.

Shettima made the assertion on Sunday in Abuja while receiving a support group, the APC National Integrity Movement.

The former Borno State Governor stated that Atiku cannot match Bola Tinubu's track record if service delivery, qualitative leadership and capacity for grooming competent administrators are criteria.

“Atiku Abubakar is like a father to me and I hold him in high esteem. But he is a political tourist who is only in this country every electoral circle and we are going to retire him back to Dubai to go and relax.

"In every situation, for people to see your worth, they need to see your output at home. I am from the Northeast; he is from the Northeast.

“Atiku cannot point to three projects that he brought to the Northeast or to Northern Nigeria for the eight years that he served as the vice president. He cannot show us three people that he has mentored.

“Is he even on good terms with past governors of Adamawa state? Admiral Nyako is with us. James Ngilari is with us.

"Asiwaju can boast of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, he can boast of Babatunde Raji Fashola, he can boast Lai Mohammed, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi, Femi Gbajabiamila, Abiodun Faleke, Joe Igbokwe, Ben Akabuaze.

"I can boost of Babagana Zulum, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Betara Aliyu and Tahir Mongunu, Zanaib Gimba", Shettima said.

Speaking further, he added: “The trajectory of global growth is facing Africa and Nigeria will make or mar that transition. That is why I will rather be a small fish in a big pond than be a big fish in a small pond.

“I supported Asiwaju out of a moral obligation, out of a moral conviction. What we have seen is his opportunity for national collaboration and national cohesion.

"When the frontlines that divide us were being manipulated for political ends, Asiwaju refused to swallow the pill.

“Nigerians of the younger generation must know Asiwaju’s history of two decades past when he stood firm as the fulcrum to a despotic PDP government in this country when he was viciously maligned and ostracised and that was when he laid the foundation for modern Lagos State.

“He provided support and succour when the nation was enveloped in darkness and when we were having lots of destruction in the hands of military dictators, he was a sanctuary for victims of political witch hunt including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who was intimidated ad harassed, dehumanised and chased out of the PDP.

“It was Asiwaju that gave him political sanctuary and a platform to contest the Presidency of this country in 2007.

"The same thing was repeated four years later when another harassed person, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was given the platform to contest the presidency of this country under the ACN.

“Those of us who were in Lagos in 2014 for the Presidential primary of the APC can attest to the fact that without the block support of the southwest, President Muhammadu Buhari would not have emerged as the Presidential flag bearer of the APC.

“For God's sake, ours is a young nation where inclusivity and sense of belonging have been the cardinal work of our national and political intercourse.

"If power resides in the north for eight years, for God's sake, it should move."