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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday, said he never betrayed President Bola Tinubu during their political alignment in 2007.
Atiku stated this during a world press conference on the issue of Tinubu’s academic records released by Chicago State University (CSU), in Abuja.
While responding to a question from a journalist on a claim by presidential spokesman, Tope Ajayi, that he betrayed Tinubu by requesting the president’s academic records from Chicago State University, Atiku said he and Tinubu parted ways politically after the former Lagos State Governor wanted to be his running mate in 2007.
He said rather than betray the president, he stood up to his then principal, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and ensured that Lagos State did not fall to the political tsunami of PDP in 2003.
“Those of you who are old enough will also remember that in 2003, the PDP took over all the South Western states, with the exception of Lagos.
“I stood between Obasanjo and himself (Tinubu) and I said no, you (Obasanjo) can’t take over Lagos. Leave it and he (Obasanjo) left it. So, who is indebted to who? Is it me or Bola Ahmed Tinubu? I vehemently deny that I stabbed Tinubu in the back.
“I beg to disagree (on betrayal allegation) with Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yes, it is true that in 2007 we came together to form an alliance in Lagos, and at the convention, I contested and got the ticket on merit. After I got the ticket, he sent about 5 or 6 seniors – some of them are here – I can even name them but I don’t want to embarrass them.
“They met me and said to me that Bola wanted to be my running mate. I said to them, gentlemen, you’re all old enough, and apparently, virtually all of you are Christians’ with the exception of one person. What will be your reaction to having a Muslim-Muslim ticket?
“All of them said we totally objected to it and I said why didn’t you tell him when he was giving you the message that look Mr Tinubu, the message you’re sending us, we don’t seem to agree with you on it (Muslim-Muslim ticket). Why are you coming to me then? And that was the end of our political relationship. We broke away, so what is the ground for him to say that I betrayed him?
“Till today, I won’t do a Muslim-Muslim ticket; I don’t have to be president; we are a multi-ethnic and multi-religious people, our government must reflect our diversity and our composition must reflect the same.
“Tinubu supported Umaru Yar’adua in 2007. There are other things which I will not want to go into,” the former vice president said.
I’ll end legal battle against Tinubu after Supreme Court judgement- Atiku
Atiku also said he would end the legal battle challenging the process and election that brought Tinubu into office after the Supreme Court judgement.
“The case is still in court. I’ll only drop this fight if the court rules. If the court rules that I’m right, fine; if the court rules that Tinubu is right, fine. There’s no other court higher than the Supreme Court. That is where it all ends,” he added.