Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has addressed speculation regarding his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, dismissing claims that it was linked to ongoing coalition talks among opposition parties.
Atiku, who led a group of prominent political figures to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna on Friday, April 11, clarified that the visit was solely for Sallah celebrations, with no political agenda behind it.
The visit came shortly after a similar visit by governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Senator Hope Uzodimma, during the Eid festivities. Atiku took to his official X handle to set the record straight, saying, “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in Adamawa for the Sallah celebrations. I represented the Lamido Fombina in some of the activities. Today, I had the chance to make a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he had me laughing so much, my ribs hurt.”
The delegation accompanying Atiku included several high-profile figures: former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, former Sokoto State Governor and current Senator Aminu Tambuwal, ex-Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, ex-Adamawa State Governor Jubirila Bindow, and former Communications Minister Isa Pantami. While El-Rufa’i is currently with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Atiku and most of the group remain members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The group also participated in the Friday Jummat prayers in Kaduna.
In a statement to the press after the visit, Atiku reiterated that the occasion was purely a courtesy visit for Sallah greetings. “We came here to convey our Sallah greetings to President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
When questioned about the possibility of an opposition coalition, Atiku acknowledged that discussions between political parties were ongoing but emphasized that they were not connected to this visit. “There is a plan for major political parties to unite and form a strong opposition, but this visit is unrelated to that,” he clarified.
The visit has sparked considerable public interest, generating significant debate on social media about its potential political implications. Atiku’s statement aims to dispel any rumors and reinforce that the visit was a ceremonial, non-political gesture.
