Retire, APC Campaign Team Tells Atiku

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, who is also one of the APC Presidential Campaign Council spokespersons, Mallam Alwan Hassan, has launched a scathing attack on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, urging him to quit the 2027 presidential race, saying he has nothing to offer Nigerians, particularly those in Northern Nigeria.

Hassan, who spoke at a press briefing in Kano on Thursday, accused Atiku of failing to address the North’s development challenges despite his years in public office and repeated attempts to become president.

“Atiku should retire and enjoy whatever is left of his customs-days largesse!” he said, adding, “Atiku, go and retire! You have nothing to offer!”

The APC chieftain questioned Atiku’s contributions to Northern development, alleging that the former vice-president had failed to demonstrate sufficient commitment to the region despite presenting himself as a champion of its interests.

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Hassan contrasted his criticism of Atiku with his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, arguing that its economic reforms and investments in infrastructure, education, and social welfare justified a second term.

He cited the reported growth of Nigeria’s economy to 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 2.74 per cent in 2023, as well as the increase in gross external reserves to $55.1bn as of October 9, 2026.

He acknowledged that the removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms had imposed significant adjustment costs on Nigerians but maintained that the policies were addressing longstanding economic challenges.

On education, Hassan praised the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying N372.6bn had been disbursed in student loans as of September 2026, with 1.66 million applications processed.

He also cited Federal Government interventions in social welfare and infrastructure, including cash transfers to vulnerable households and road projects across Northern Nigeria.

Among the projects he listed were the Kano Northern Bypass, Kano-Katsina Road, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria corridor, and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Superhighway.

Hassan urged voters, particularly in the North, to assess political leaders based on their records and contributions to national development, insisting that the region deserved more than campaign promises.

He maintained that Tinubu’s administration should be given another term to consolidate what he described as progress in economic management, education, and infrastructure.