Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed concerns that his possible presidency in 2027 would amount to Hausa-Fulani domination, stressing his deep personal and political ties with the Yoruba.
Atiku, in a statement by his Media Consultant, Kola Johnson, described his wife, Titi Atiku Abubakar, an Ijesa-born Yoruba, as a “jewel of inestimable value.” He noted that his marriage to her since the 1970s has produced four Yoruba children and symbolises his bond with the ethnic group.
“I count myself extremely lucky to have had a wife from amongst this noble people, which implies that the bond uniting me and the Yoruba is like the genetic bond of family. This is why their interest will always occupy a top place in my policy and governance if I become president in 2027,” he said.
Atiku added that the Yoruba, known for their sophistication and education, have always been among his closest associates both in private and public life. He rejected insinuations of ethnic bias, describing himself as a “highly detribalised person” who has always related seamlessly with Nigerians across regions, faiths, and cultures.
“My marital union to a Yoruba wife has gone a long way in endearing the Yoruba to my heart. I see the Yoruba landscape as my home and its people as extended family. The question of Hausa-Fulani domination does not arise at all,” he said.
