Those who are now forming mega party, what is the purpose of that mega party. You’re a member of a solid organization, you want to pull out. You are meeting with Baba Buhari, Is he a member of our party?
The former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has been criticized by Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in an effort to endear him to his coalition campaign.
In his statement, George voiced his dissatisfaction with Atiku’s decision, stating that the former Vice President ignored his party members in order to discuss his coalition agenda with Buhari, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is currently in political power.
The Former Vice President Atiku led a group of prominent politicians on a courtesy visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna on Friday April 11.
A number of prominent figures, including Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, who had previously served as governor of Benue State, former Adamawa State governor Jibrilla Bindow, and former Sokoto State governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, accompanied the opposition leader on the visit.
Speaking on ‘The Morning Show’ on Arise Television on Tuesday, George of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) questioned the purpose of the mega party that Atiku is supporting. He stated that the former Vice President’s call for coalition is simply for his own ambition.
He said, “Those who are now forming mega party, what is the purpose of that mega party. You’re a member of a solid organization, you want to pull out. You are meeting with Baba Buhari, Is he a member of our party? Have you discussed your mega something with anybody else? Do you think is a private fiefdom? Is PDP a private company? Nobody owns PDP. You bring it within the party. Let us discuss it. Once it is approved, then you move. You don’t just flip flop because of your personal ambition.
“Look at general Buhari shaking hands with these guys. Is he a member of our party? We presented you against him, and he flopped you like like a little kid, and then you are running there. And if you look at the congregation of those who visited Buhari, they are all from one side, who are the others from our party? No, it’s not done that way. In fact, my conclusion was, What is this man trying to do with this mega party? Is he trying to divide Nigeria from the north and then the south?.
“Atiku got the ticket in 2019, and in 2023, he got the ticket again. Now, he’s trying to get the ticket again.
“Is it a private fiefdom? Who was the former president? Was it not General Buhari? Where did he come from? Did he come from Yoruba land or Igbo land? All we are saying is that we have a system of eight years of presidency in the north and eight years of presidency in the south.
George urged PDP members to return home and unite for the party’s 2027 campaign, rather than banding together to establish a megaparty for Atiku’s individual ambitions.
Meanwhile, Atiku made it clear that the visit was purely for the purpose of celebrating Sallah and not for any negotiations regarding the planned alliance of political groups that is intended to establish a more powerful opposition.
Atiku said, “We came here on a courtesy and Sallah greetings visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“There is a plan for the major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of this visit.”