Victor EzejaThe comment of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar that the northerners need a president from the north has drawn wide criticisms on social media with many accusing him of dividing the country.
Atiku spoke at the interactive session of the Arewa townhall policy dialogue in Kaduna on Saturday where he reportedly told his audience which included a significant percentage of persons of Hausa and Fulani ethnic group that they don’t need an Igbo or Yoruba as president but “someone from the north”.
The former vice president told the gathering that he is the most qualified candidate, and urged them to massively for him.
Speaking on his knowledge the country’s diversity, Atiku said he has Nigeria’s 36 states and understands their peculiarities.
His words, ““I have traversed the whole of this country,” he said.
“I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, and who also understands the other parts of Nigeria and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.
“This is what the northerner needs. He (northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate, or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin,” Atiku stated on Saturday in Kaduna.
This comment of the PDP presidential flag bearer drew reactions from Nigerians on social media.
While some said it was a reckless statement, some said such smacks of ethnic division and indirectly asking the northern voters to shun southern candidates in the 2023 elections.
Farooq Kperogi, a Nigerian-American Professor and media scholar wrote on his Twitter handle @farooqkperogi, “Atiku has had his own ’emi lokan’ momen He reportedly told members of the Northern Elders Forum in Kaduna that northerners need him, not a Yoruba or Igbo candidate. That’s reckless ethnic baiting. They’re all the same.”
@Nkemchor accused Atiku of being deceitful to southern electorates
“Atiku went to the north and told northerners that they don’t need an Igbo or Yoruba candidate. This same man went to South East and told the igbos that they should support him after which they would have a shot at the presidency.
“Atiku Abubakar is very deceitful and no UNIFIER,” @Nkemchor tweeted.
Some urged Atiku to focus on what he can do for the country in terms of development not appealing to the northerners to vote for him because he hails from there.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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