Quit partisan politics – Adamawa Rep advises Atiku

Barely two weeks after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s son, Abba Atiku, declared his total support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, the House of Representatives member representing Jada, Ganye, Toungo, and Mayo-Belwa federal constituency in Adamawa State, Mr. Muhammed Basil, has advised Atiku to step back from partisan politics.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH from his Abuja residence, Basil, who is a Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker, said it is time for Atiku to assume the role of an elder statesman and mentor to younger politicians.

“Whatever you are doing in life, there is a time you must step aside and give way for younger people, especially when age is no longer on your side,” Basil said.

He added, “When you look back and see that those you were playing politics with have left the scene, it is more honourable to take a bow and become a political compass guiding younger people on what to do. Atiku is a powerful politician, nobody can dispute that, and his seat as an elder statesman is waiting for him at the national level.”

Basil praised Atiku’s contributions to national development but said there comes a point when the returns from continued partisan engagement diminish.

“There is diminishing return in whatever we are doing; age is advancing, people are moving out of your team to other camps. These are signs that you have reached your boiling point in life,” he said.

On the PDP’s prospects in Adamawa State ahead of the 2027 general elections, Basil expressed confidence in the party’s dominance.

“Politics is not practiced on the pages of newspapers or in the media. Some talk morning till night, but on election day, you will not see them in their constituencies because they are not on the ground,” he stated.

Two weeks ago, Abba Atiku formally left the PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress. He collected his membership registration card at Gwadabwa Ward in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, stating that he joined the APC to support what he described as the “best economic and human reforms” under President Tinubu’s administration.

“I want to make it very clear: nobody or any political party can stop President Bola Tinubu from returning to Aso Rock in 2027. Nigerians have seen his good work. He is not a tribalist; he doesn’t make appointments based on religion or region. His decisions are purely on merit,” Abba said.

He added that he was motivated to join the APC due to the massive infrastructural and human development ongoing across the country.

“The president needs your support to continue his good work. We should mobilise more people, beyond party affiliations, to support our president,” Abba said.

Meanwhile, another of Atiku Abubakar’s sons, Adamu Atiku, remains a senior PDP member and serves as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s administration.

Atiku Abubakar, who is now a presidential aspirant under the African Democratic Congress, currently has no sons aligned with him in his new party.

Attempts to obtain a response from Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls from our correspondent.(Punch)