Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, were among prominent national figures who gathered in Abuja on Saturday for a high-profile political event. The trio attended a special colloquium organised in honour of former Sokoto State Governor and Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to commemorate his 60th birthday.
The event, titled “Leadership, Service and Statesmanship at 60,” took place at the New Event Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. It drew a wide array of political leaders, senior politicians, and key stakeholders from across Nigeria, underscoring Tambuwal’s influence and longstanding role in the country’s political landscape.
Sharing details of his presence at the occasion, Atiku Abubakar announced his arrival at the venue through a post on his official 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account. He also posted photographs featuring himself alongside Obasanjo and Peter Obi, capturing a rare moment of convergence among leading figures from different political traditions.
“I just arrived at the New Event Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, for the Tambuwal Colloquium—Leadership, Service and Statesmanship at 60, to mark the 60th birthday of H.E. Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,” Atiku wrote, describing the former governor as the Mutawallen Sokoto.
The gathering has since generated considerable political interest, given the stature of the attendees and ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition space.
Meanwhile, the event coincided with renewed internal criticism within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, accused Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, and a former PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, of contributing to the party’s internal decline.
Fayose made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, where he alleged that the actions and decisions of the trio weakened the PDP. “Atiku destroyed the PDP, Tambuwal destroyed the PDP, and Ayu destroyed it,” Fayose stated, adding that politics, like life, is often unfair and unbalanced.
The former governor also commented on the deepening rift between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Fayose said he never anticipated such a fallout between the two leaders.
Recalling events surrounding Fubara’s inauguration, Fayose said he was present on the high table during the swearing-in ceremony in Rivers State and even cautioned the new governor against betraying Wike. According to him, the current political crisis between the duo is both surprising and unfortunate.
Together, these developments highlight the complex and evolving dynamics within Nigeria’s political elite, even as leading figures continue to share platforms at national events celebrating leadership and statesmanship.
0 Comments