Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has called on ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to consider dropping his presidential ambition for 2027, arguing that personal ego is the biggest obstacle to opposition unity against the All Progressives Congress (APC). Akande, who served as senior media aide to former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, made the remarks during an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, citing President Bola Tinubu's political journey as a template for opposition strategy.
Akande Cites Tinubu's Resilience as a Model
Akande pointed to the period between 2015 and 2023, when Tinubu allegedly faced deliberate attempts by influential figures within the Buhari administration to reduce his political standing inside the APC. Despite these pressures, Akande said Tinubu neither abandoned the party nor his ambitions. He stayed, regrouped, and eventually secured the presidency.
Akande said he personally witnessed occasions where Tinubu was excluded or sidelined during key meetings, yet the Lagos politician chose to absorb those setbacks rather than allow them to derail his long-term goals. He also referenced the naira redesign controversy that preceded the 2023 elections, arguing that Tinubu's response was to double down on his campaign rather than retreat.
Ego as the Biggest Barrier to Opposition Unity
Akande turned his attention to the opposition's fractured state, arguing that ego and personal ambition remain the biggest barriers to forming a credible coalition against the APC. In his view, Atiku, as a leading opposition figure, carries a particular responsibility to model the kind of sacrifice that unity demands.
"He should be willing to relinquish his personal ambition if doing so would improve the opposition's chances of defeating the APC," Akande said, according to Business Day.
The comments add fresh pressure on opposition leaders already grappling with how to present a coherent alternative to voters ahead of the next general election. Akande pushed back against narratives that blame the ruling party alone for the difficulties opposition figures face, insisting that any political movement serious about power must be capable of building strategy under pressure.
Atiku's Criticism of Tinubu's Economic Policy
Legit.ng earlier reported that Atiku Abubakar addressed Nigerians on Wednesday, October 14, citing hunger, insecurity, and rising costs as reasons to demand political change in 2027. The NDC presidential candidate urged registered voters to collect their PVCs, describing the card as their peaceful power to demand change.
Atiku's message took direct aim at President Tinubu, promising to make life affordable and restore security if elected. The call from Akande underscores the ongoing debate within the opposition about the path to defeating the APC in 2027, with unity and sacrifice now central to the discussion.
