Onanuga Slams Atiku Over Power Rotation Comments, Warns of 2027 Failure
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following his recent remarks on Nigeria's power rotation arrangement. In a strongly worded statement, Onanuga accused Atiku of attempting to undermine the established North-South formula to serve his personal political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku's Controversial Interview Sparks Presidential Response
The presidency's reaction was triggered by Atiku's Wednesday interview on Arise TV, where the former Vice President argued that he is not bound by the rotation principle. Atiku claimed that the South has theoretically held power for more years than the North since 1999, a point Onanuga dismissed as "dubious arithmetic." Onanuga noted that the North's shorter tenure resulted from the untimely death of President Umaru Yar'Adua, describing it as an "accidental breach" that does not invalidate the broader agreement.
Onanuga Labels Atiku a "Perennial Candidate" and Predicts Repeat Failure
Onanuga warned that Atiku, whom he labeled a "perennial candidate," is poised to repeat the strategic blunders that led to his loss in 2023. He recalled that Atiku's decision to run in 2023, attempting to succeed a fellow Northerner after an eight-year term, disregarded the PDP's own zoning policy, fractured the party, and ultimately resulted in his defeat. For 2027, the presidential aide suggested that history is set to repeat itself, stating that another spectacular failure awaits this candidate in the next election.
Emphasis on Southern Turn and Tinubu's Entitlement
Onanuga emphasized the necessity of the southern turn, noting that because former President Muhammadu Buhari completed an eight-year term for the North, President Bola Tinubu is entitled to complete his own. This ensures that 2027 remains the turn of the South. He wrote, "Once again, Abubakar Atiku has put forward a self-serving argument to justify his attempt to disrupt Nigeria's power rotation arrangement. In 2023, as a member of the PDP, a party that, like others, practices zoning, Atiku disregarded the established formula and sought to succeed a fellow northerner, who had spent eight years in office."
Detailed Critique of Atiku's Political Arithmetic
In his statement, Onanuga further elaborated on Atiku's interview, where the former Vice President, now sounding like the presumed ADC candidate, revisited his 2023 argument on the North-South power rotation. Onanuga described Atiku's insistence as a "brazenly self-serving twist," pointing out that Atiku conveniently overlooks the fact that the North's shorter tenure was due to Yar'Adua's death, which led to President Jonathan's succession. He stressed that this accidental breach does not invalidate the power rotation arrangement between the North and the South.
Call for Atiku to Bury 2027 Ambition
Onanuga concluded by urging Atiku to abandon his 2027 ambitions, stating, "Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own. All Atiku needs to do is to bury the thought of running again, as it is still the South's turn in the 2027 election." This firm stance underscores the presidency's commitment to upholding the power rotation principle and warns against any attempts to disrupt it for personal gain.
