President Bola Tinubu has expressed fond memories of his time with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar when Atiku was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement celebrating Atiku’s 78th birthday, Tinubu referred to him as a founding member of the APC and highlighted their shared vision for a brighter future for the Nigerian people.
Atiku Abubakar, who was the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has been a prominent figure in Nigeria’s democratic landscape since the return to civilian governance in 1999.
The political journey between Tinubu and Atiku dates back to their days in the now-defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). However, their paths diverged after the APC rose to power under President Muhammadu Buhari.
The friction reportedly stemmed from a power struggle over the chairmanship of the APC’s Board of Trustees (BoT). Atiku’s aspirations for the presidency in 2019 led him to leave the APC and rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party he also helped to establish.
In his recent statement, by his spokesperson, Sunday Dare, President Tinubu reminisced about the significant moments he and Atiku shared as co-founders of the APC, emphasizing their united mission to improve Nigeria, as well as their roles as political rivals in the recent presidential elections.
Tinubu acknowledged Atiku’s dedication to public service and his philanthropic efforts, wishing him continued health and happiness in the years to come.
