2027: Shettima likens Atiku to Kenya’s serial presidential loser, Raila Odinga
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has likened former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to veteran Kenyan opposition politician Raila Odinga, who contested the country’s presidency five times without success.
Shettima made the comparison on Wednesday while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council at its inauguration ahead of the 2027 general election.
He also criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, over his frequent comparisons between Nigeria’s economy and those of Asian countries.
The Vice-President challenged Obi to propose practical solutions tailored to Nigeria’s economic and social realities rather than relying on what he described as simplistic international comparisons.
“A country of over 250 million people cannot be governed through borrowed statistics and economic prescriptions detached from its peculiarities,” he said.
Shettima’s remarks came as the APC formally inaugurated its campaign council to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Despite his criticism of opposition figures, the Vice-President urged APC campaign officials to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and focus on policy debates, leadership records and competing visions for national development.
He said the ruling party should treat political opponents with respect, stressing that they were fellow Nigerians rather than enemies.
“For the rest of the duration of this campaign, we’ll discuss ideas, we’ll discuss policies, but we’ll treat all our opponents with respect and dignity. They are not our enemies. They are our brothers. They are our countrymen. They are our leaders,” he said.
Shettima acknowledged that the APC could respond to allegations and criticisms from opposition parties but cautioned party members against resorting to sentiments or fabricated claims.
“We have the capacity to respond to all sorts of innuendos and outright lies that our political opponents are taking on. But we won’t fall into their traps.
