Atiku also claimed Tinubu wanted to be his running mate during the 2007 election but he declined
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former vice president and the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar made a shocking revelation on how Nigeria’s incumbent President, Bola Tinubu retained his seat as the governor of Lagos State in 2003.
According to him, he beckoned on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to allow Tinubu to continue as the Lagos State governor in 2003 during an election in which PDP took over the entire Southwest.
The PDP 2023 flag bearer in February 25 presidential poll made this known during his world press conference to address the Chicago State University saga in Abuja on Thursday.
Atiku during the press briefing went on to say Tinubu worked for the late President Umar Yar’Adua during the 2007 presidential election and insisted he won his primary election held in Lagos that year on merit.
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He further alleged that the former Lagos State governor sent people to him asking to be his running mate during the election but he declined because he did not like a Muslim Muslim ticket.
Speaking during the press conference Atiku said: “Tinubu didn’t support me in 2007, at the primaries held in Lagos, I won on merit. He later sent people to me so he can be my running mate but I don’t like Muslim Muslim ticket, till date, I will never support it.
“In 2007, Tinubu worked for Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to win.
“Whereas I was the one who asked OBJ, in 2003, to leave Lagos State for him, we took all other South-West states but we deliberately left Lagos for Tinubu, unfortunately, he supported Yar’Adua against me.”