Following several speculations, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dispelled rumours that his visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his home in Kaduna on Friday was for discussions on an opposition coalition with respect to the 2027 election.
It will be recalled that the governors of the All Progressives Congress, led by Senator Hope Uzodimma, visited Buhari in a similar manner more than 48 hours before Atiku and his entourage.
Leading a group of well-known politicians on a courtesy call to Buhari, Atiku clarified that the purpose of the meeting was to celebrate Sallah and not to discuss the proposed political party coalition.
In a post on his official X handle, Atiku wrote, “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations. Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015-2023. It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up with his peculiar humour.”
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Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i and former Sokoto State Governor and current Senator Aminu Tambuwal also accompanied Atiku on the visit.
Others were former Adamawa State Governor Jubirila Bindow, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, and former Communications Minister Isa Pantami.
While El-Rufa’i is now a member of the Social Democratic Party, Atiku and the rest are of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
El-Rufa’i, Atiku, Tambuwal, and Pantami also observed Friday Jummat prayers in Kaduna.
Atiku, who also spoke with journalists after the visit, said, “We came here on a courtesy and Sallah greetings visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Atiku hinted that talks were ongoing over plans to build a significant opposition party, but he made it clear that this was not the visit’s main objective.
The clarification became important due to extensive conversations among Nigerians, many of whom debated its ramifications on social media.
