Atiku’s political journey shows consistency in accepting defeats, aide claims

Michael Olumide

A Senior Political Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Demola Olarewaju, has strongly defended the emerging opposition coalition being built around the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that the arrangement is not driven by personal ambition but by what he described as a broader democratic convergence of political actors.

Speaking on Monday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Olarewaju said the unfolding political realignment should be understood within the context of Atiku Abubakar’s long-standing democratic conduct and history of internal party loyalty.

He argued that critics often misread Atiku’s political posture by ignoring his decades-long record of accepting party outcomes, even when unfavourable.

According to him, Atiku’s political identity is rooted in a tradition of discipline and respect for democratic processes within party structures.

Tracing Atiku’s political journey back to the early 1990s, Olarewaju said the former vice president’s experience under the military transition era significantly shaped his political philosophy.

He recalled that Atiku initially ran for governor in 1992 but was disqualified alongside several other prominent figures due to political restructuring at the time.

He explained that the disqualifications of key political actors, including influential names such as Chief Samuel Oluyemisi Falae and Patrick Dele Cole, created a vacuum that allowed younger politicians to step into national contests earlier than expected.

Atiku, he said, was drawn into the presidential race under the mentorship of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

Olarewaju further narrated that Atiku eventually participated in the primaries, where he placed third behind M.K. Abiola and Babagana Kingibe.

He said the outcome of that contest marked a defining moment in Atiku’s political development, shaping his belief in accepting democratic outcomes.

He noted that Atiku’s camp later aligned with the Abiola camp after being approached for political consolidation, a move he described as an early demonstration of political maturity and discipline.

According to Olarewaju, this pattern of acceptance of electoral outcomes has remained consistent throughout Atiku’s political career.

He referenced the 2011 presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where Atiku lost to then-President Goodluck Jonathan but subsequently supported him in the general election.

He also pointed to the 2015 political cycle, where Atiku lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket to Muhammadu Buhari but still supported the party’s eventual candidate.

These repeated actions, he argued, demonstrate a consistent democratic principle rather than isolated political decisions.

Olarewaju said Atiku’s conduct reflects a political culture rooted in the acceptance of victory and defeat, adding that anyone participating in democratic competition must be prepared for both outcomes.

He stressed that Atiku’s statements on supporting consensus candidates should be understood within that historical context.

He contrasted Atiku’s political behaviour with what he described as less disciplined responses from other political actors after elections, citing former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as an example.

He argued that some post-election alignments have weakened party cohesion and democratic ethics.

Quoting a political philosophy often attributed to democratic thinkers, Olarewaju said the legitimacy of victory is strengthened by the willingness to accept defeat, adding that this principle underpins Atiku’s political philosophy.

He further insisted that if Atiku eventually emerges as the coalition’s candidate, other aspirants must also be willing to support him, stressing that democratic fairness demands reciprocity among political actors.

On the emerging ADC coalition, Olarewaju expressed confidence that Atiku remains a central figure in the arrangement and said he does not foresee him losing out in the process.

He maintained that the coalition is working towards unity and shared political purpose ahead of the next general election.

“We expect that Atiku will win. But regardless of who wins… the coalition will remain together and strong,” he said, listing possible contenders within the alliance, including Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Atiku himself.

Addressing concerns about Atiku’s age ahead of the 2027 elections, Olarewaju dismissed such debates as distractions, insisting that leadership should be judged by competence, health, and mental capacity rather than numerical age.

He argued that critics often distort political realities and said leadership evaluation should be based on results rather than sentiment.

According to him, if a candidate is physically and mentally sound, age should not be a barrier to public office.

Using a metaphor drawn from everyday realities, he argued that Nigerians should prioritise governance delivery over emotional arguments about age, stating that citizens would accept effective leadership regardless of how old the leader is.

He concluded by stressing that the ultimate political question is not age or ambition but the capacity to deliver good governance.

According to him, Nigeria’s current challenges in security, economy, and human capital development make competence the most important criterion for leadership selection.