Peter Omonua, a Nigerian writer, has appealed to former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to consider supporting a coalition of opposition parties in the 2027 presidential election. Omonua believes that a fragmented opposition would enhance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's chances of re-election. In recent interviews, top contenders Donald Duke, Adewole Adebayo, and Peter Obi emphasized the need for a coalition to challenge Tinubu's re-election bid.
Omonua argued that if Atiku Abubakar were to support Peter Obi's candidature, their combined votes could pose a significant challenge to Tinubu. He cited a possible election result where Tinubu receives 8.7 million votes, while Atiku and Obi aggregate 6.9 million and 6.1 million votes, respectively. This would give a total of 14.5 million votes for the opposition coalition. Omonua believes that a clear-cut victory would eliminate the need for judicial intervention.
Atiku Abubakar's decision to contest in the 2027 election has raised concerns about his age and potential impact on his performance. At 79 years old, he is 14 years older than the oldest of the other top contenders. Nigeria's median population age is approximately 17.9 to 18.1 years old, with over 60% of the population under the age of 25 to 30. Omonua questioned whether an 80-year-old president would possess the mental alertness and physical fitness required to address the country's challenges.
The country is facing an unprecedented level of moral and social decadence among the youth, including advanced fee fraud, prostitution, drug trafficking, and cultism. Omonua believes that an older president may struggle to respond to these issues. He also pointed out that the APC-led administrations over the last 12 years have been led by octogenarians, which has contributed to the country's free-fall in moral fabric and total degeneracy.
There are suspicions that Atiku Abubakar may have a secret pact with President Tinubu to fragment and destabilize the opposition, particularly Peter Obi's camp. Omonua referenced past statements made by Atiku, suggesting a close relationship with Tinubu. These allegations have led some to wonder if Atiku's insistence on contesting is part of a larger arrangement to clear the path for Tinubu's re-election.
Atiku Abubakar's decision to contest has also raised concerns about his potential impact on the opposition's chances. Omonua argued that Atiku's presence in the election could reinforce the perception that a particular ethnic group exhibits a "born to rule" attitude. He suggested that Atiku should consider being a kingmaker rather than aiming for the presidency himself.
Omonua concluded by urging Atiku Abubakar to learn from Tinubu's pitfalls and heed the voices of reason. He believes that Atiku should not risk becoming an object of ridicule by pursuing a life-long ambition that may be unrealistic. The 2027 presidential election is expected to be a significant challenge for all contenders, and Omonua's appeal to Atiku Abubakar is just one of many voices calling for a strategic approach to the election.
Key points
- Peter Omonua urges Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to support a coalition of opposition parties against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.
- Atiku Abubakar's age and potential impact on his performance have raised concerns about his suitability for the presidency.
- There are suspicions that Atiku Abubakar may have a secret pact with President Tinubu to fragment and destabilize the opposition.
