Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has brushed aside questions about his age as he seeks to contest the 2027 presidential election, saying his appearance should be enough to judge whether he is too old for the presidency.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, spoke during an interview with BBC Hausa released on Friday.
He was asked whether his age could affect his ability to serve effectively and remain healthy throughout a four-year presidential term.
The interviewer noted that Atiku would be “almost or nearly 80 years old” when Nigerians vote in 2027 and asked what he would tell those who believe his age makes him unsuitable for the office.
Atiku responded by comparing the issue with President Bola Tinubu’s age and questioning why his own age was being singled out.
“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?” he asked.
After the interviewer corrected him that Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku replied, “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”
The former vice president is currently mobilising support ahead of the 2027 poll while working with opposition politicians under a coalition seeking to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Addressing suggestions that he had frustrated the coalition, Atiku rejected the claim and maintained that he was among those who initiated the arrangement.
“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.
He said the majority of those who helped establish the coalition were still working together, despite differences involving some prominent opposition politicians.
According to him, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi were among the major figures who had moved away from the group.
“It was just Kwankwaso… he was with us at first, then he left,” Atiku said.
When asked specifically about Obi, he said, “Yes, and also Peter Obi. It’s just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work.”
Despite their differences, Atiku said the possibility of a fresh understanding among opposition politicians before the election remained open.
“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.
On the removal of the petrol subsidy, Atiku criticised the Federal Government over the use of the resulting savings.
He said he was not against ending the subsidy but questioned what happened to the money saved after its removal.
“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku asked.
He argued that the funds should have been used to tackle poverty, improve education, strengthen security and expand opportunities for Nigerians.
“Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” he said.
Atiku also promised that he would reinstate the petrol subsidy if elected president, while insisting that anyone who diverted the funds should return them.
“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he said.
He maintained that Nigerians would not have faced the present level of hardship from subsidy removal if the savings had been properly invested.
“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 ADC candidate also defended his refusal to participate in a peace accord involving opposition parties.
He questioned why the exercise focused on opposition politicians without requiring the incumbent government to make the same commitment.
“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 said he saw no justification for signing such an agreement if the ruling party was not part of it.
“So, if you don’t bring the incumbent government to come and sign, I see no point in going to sign it,” he said.