Atiku to Shettima: I’m not going into retirement, the struggle continues

Atiku Abubakar, the presiden­tial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has confirmed that he will not go into political retirement despite losing at the election tribunal.

Atiku vowed to continue contributing his quota in deepening democracy after Vice President Kashim Shet­tima boasted of retiring him into cattle rearing.

Atiku, who spoke through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Thursday, said, “He is not going into re­tirement and will instead continue to be part of the struggle to deepen democracy in the country”.

The statement, also de­scribed as false, reports that Atiku congratulated President Bola Tinubu over the outcome of the election petition tribunal.

“If their conscience is clear and they are convinced that their victory is valid, they don’t have to blackmail their political opponents into congratulating them through fake news,” Ibe said.

He also stated that Atiku has nothing personal against Tinubu, noting that his decision to approach the courts is based on principles.

“The Waziri has nothing personal against President Tinubu. He owes him no ill will. Let me, however, make it very clear that this struggle is about principle and justice. He is not in this struggle because he hates Tinubu.

“He is in it to ensure that people who rigged elections are not allowed to get away with it. Injustice and rig­ging promote bitterness and division. No leader should be proud to lead angry and ag­grieved citizens,” he said.