Ahead of the 2023 election, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has reacted to Bola Tinubu’s choice of a fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
Atiku, in a statement which was obtained by Africa Today News, New York called on Nigerians to shun ‘exclusionist politics’, indicating that the country had seen the worst shade of exclusionist politics and the road ahead is the path of inclusive and unifying politics.
He admonished Nigerians not to allow ‘primordial sentiment’ becloud politics, especially in such a very difficult time.
The statement read in part: ‘Politics is meant to be a corrective mechanism. So, even when we’re upset about the inexcusable low that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has brought us in the past 7 years, we must ensure that we insulate our politics from the corrosive effect of the ruling party’s failures.’
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Atiku noted that a society cannot progress if its politics is divisive.
‘Dear friend and compatriot, the journey that we have signed on to undertake together is not one that we can accomplish by threading the inglorious path of exclusionist politics. This journey, our campaign, is a rescue mission this nation and it is a mission that must involve all Nigerians.
‘So, while our opponents might think that there is an easy road to victory in divisive politics, we must get the message across to them that Nigeria has seen the worst shade of exclusionist politics and the road ahead is the path of inclusive and unifying politics. That is what we stand for,’ he said.
Atiku went on to add that his party ‘are Unifiers and the Bridge-builders’ and represent the future of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria, unlike the ruling party.