By Adeleye Kunle
Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has traveled to the United Kingdom, more than three weeks after leaving Nigeria for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UK), Track News reports.
With the PDP in crisis, most stakeholders are said to be concerned that Atiku, who they believe should be at the forefront of meetings with disgruntled party leaders such as Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, and others, has been out of the country since June.
Some are said to have begun making reference to the former Vice President’s departure from Nigeria for Dubai immediately following the 2019 general elections.
It should be noted that Atiku jetted out of the country in April 2021 and spent over seven months in the UAE before returning to the country.
Sources told newsmen yesterday that the former Vice President, who had been in Dubai for more than three weeks, had moved to the United Kingdom for his Master’s Degree convocation.
The PDP presidential candidate completed his Masters in International Relations degree program at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, UK, in November 2021.
From Monday, July 11 to Friday, July 29, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) will hold graduation ceremonies in Chelmsford, Cambridge, and Peterborough.
Some PDP leaders who preferred anonymity told our reporter that it would be unfathomable if Atiku did not return to Nigeria early next week for the governorship election in Osun State.
“He wasn’t in Ekiti; will he be in Osun as well?” How are we going to account for his absence? Is it possible that he is unaware of the significance of the elections in Ekiti and Osun? “Perhaps he believes that by winning the primary, he has automatically won the general election,” a Plateau State PDP leader lamented.
Many concerned party members are also said to be wondering how Atiku will be absent at this time, which is the final Sallah celebration before the 2023 general elections.
A former National Working Committee member expressed concern that “even during Sallah celebrations, our presidential candidate, a Muslim, is not here to celebrate with our people.” This is unfortunate because there will be no other Eid-el-Kabir celebrations before the election in February of next year.
Many former NWC members, including the former Vice President, are concerned that “if this level of disenchantment by the former Vice President is allowed to grow beyond this level, it will be difficult to handle.”
He bemoaned the attitude and language of those around Atiku, adding that they appeared to be acting as if they had already won the election.
“Well-meaning party stakeholders should wade in now so that we don’t have a repeat of 2015 and 2019,” he concluded.
