Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his longtime political ally-turned-rival, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, met behind closed doors at Obasanjo’s hilltop mansion in Abeokuta. Atiku, who has spent nearly three decades chasing the presidency, arrived with a delegation that included former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, Senator Abdul Ningi, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal. The purpose of the meeting remains a mystery, but given the current political climate, it is hard to ignore the possibility of yet another grand opposition scheme.
With the 2027 presidential election on the horizon, many are asking if this meeting was just a friendly reunion or the beginning of a calculated plan to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in 2023, lost to President Bola Tinubu, but he clearly isn’t ready to step aside. After all, this is a man who has refused to retire from politics despite failing multiple times. Nigerians are left wondering, is Atiku really the answer to the country’s problems, or is he just another power-hungry politician unwilling to accept reality?
Desperate Times, Desperate Strategies
The opposition, still reeling from their loss in 2023, appears to be gearing up for another battle. The question is, does Atiku have anything new to offer? At 78, his political career has been defined by endless attempts to clinch the presidency, yet Nigerians have repeatedly rejected him at the polls. Now, with whispers of political realignment, some wonder if Atiku is trying to form an alliance with Obasanjo to boost his chances. But how realistic is this? Obasanjo has never been shy about his disdain for Atiku, and their history is filled with accusations, betrayal, and power struggles. So, what changed? Is this a genuine reconciliation, or just another desperate political move?
Meanwhile, the ruling APC is unlikely to lose sleep over this meeting. If history has taught us anything, it is that Nigerian opposition parties excel at holding secret meetings but fail spectacularly at executing a solid strategy. Atiku’s repeated losses prove that name recognition alone isn’t enough to win elections. The real question is, what new trick is he bringing this time?
Recycling Old Faces, Expecting New Results?
Atiku’s political career is a textbook case of persistence, but at what point does persistence become delusion? Nigerians have seen this movie before same characters, same script, and the same ending. The opposition’s problem isn’t just strategy, it’s credibility. How can Nigerians take them seriously when they keep recycling the same old politicians? If Atiku and his allies think they can convince the electorate with vague promises and backroom deals, they are in for another shock.
Atiku’s latest meeting with Obasanjo might make headlines, but will it translate into votes? Or will Nigerians, once again, reject his ambition in favour of a fresh alternative?
