NIGERIA: Tinubu’s Aide Cautions Atiku To Retire To Dubai Quickly As Former SGF Quits ADC

By Onoja Baba

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has mocked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, urging him to “retire to Dubai quickly” following a scathing attack on the candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2027 presidential candidate by one of his former close allies.

In a post on Monday, Onanuga highlighted the resignation of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, from the ADC, describing it as a devastating blow to Atiku even before the ruling party begins its campaign against him.

“We have not fired any bullet against veteran presidential runner and northern hegemonic Abubakar Atiku yet. But a close ally just destroyed Atiku in many unflattering words. It’s a warning that the man should retire to Dubai quickly,” Onanuga wrote.

Lawal, a prominent northern politician and former ally of Atiku, announced his exit from the ADC in a statement titled “The Kachalla Series Part 1.”

He accused the party’s recently concluded primaries of being massively rigged in favour of Atiku, whom he repeatedly referred to as “Kachalla Abubakar Atiku.”

The former SGF described the process as a “disgraceful charade” and said he refused to be part of what he called Atiku’s “rigging machine” for the 2027 general elections.

He labelled Atiku an “incompetent octogenarian,” “tribal and religious bigot,” “irredentist Fulani,” and “religious hegemonist,” while expressing fears that an Atiku presidency would worsen Nigeria’s situation.

Lawal further claimed that supporting Atiku would hand President Tinubu an automatic second term, describing the 2027 choice as a “Morton’s fork.” He announced plans to retire to his village farm while working with others to stop Atiku’s presidential ambition.