2027: Atiku dismisses age concerns, says ‘do I look 80?’

The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed concerns about his age ahead of the 2027 presidential election, asking critics whether he looks like someone who is approaching 80.

Atiku stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday, while responding to concerns that his age could affect his ability to provide effective leadership if elected.

The former vice president was responding to a question on whether his age could affect his ability to provide effective and healthy leadership for four years if elected.

The interviewer noted that Atiku would be “almost or nearly 80 years old” by the time Nigerians vote in 2027 and asked what he would say to those who considered his age too advanced for the presidency.

Responding, Atiku referenced President Bola Tinubu’s age before challenging the premise of the question.

“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?” he asked.

When the interviewer corrected him, saying Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku responded, “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”

The exchange comes as Atiku intensifies preparations for the 2027 presidential election and seeks to rally opposition politicians behind a coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Atiku also rejected claims that he had become an obstacle to the opposition coalition, saying he was instrumental in bringing the group together.

“That is a baseless accusation levelled against me. I was actually the one who initiated the coalition. Nobody else…I, Atiku Abubakar, started it,” he said.

According to him, most of the politicians who started the coalition remained together, despite disagreements among some of the major opposition figures.

He identified NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as the two major opposition figures who had left the group.

“It was just Kwankwaso… he was with us at first, then he left,” Atiku said.

Asked about Obi, he added, “Yes, and also Peter Obi. It’s just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work.”

Atiku, however, said there was still a possibility of the opposition politicians working together before the 2027 election.

“Nothing is impossible, by God’s grace.

“One day you’ll see… we have agreed to work together to save this country and its poor citizens, Insha Allah,” he said.

The former vice president also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying the savings from the policy had not been adequately accounted for.

“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku asked.

He said the funds were supposed to help reduce poverty, improve education, address insecurity and create opportunities for young Nigerians.

“Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” he said.

Atiku also promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president, while demanding that anyone who had stolen the money refund it.

“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he said.

He further said the subsidy could have been removed without causing the level of hardship being experienced by Nigerians if the savings had been properly used.

“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went.

“If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” Atiku said.

The former vice president also defended his decision not to sign a peace accord involving opposition politicians, saying he questioned why the incumbent government was not included.

He said, “Why is it always only us in the opposition that you bring to sign, but you never bring the incumbent government to sign as well?”

Atiku added that he saw little value in the exercise if the ruling party was excluded.

“So, if you don’t bring the incumbent government to come and sign, I see no point in going to sign it,” he said.