Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has said that the nature of his politics is full time and leaves no room for a vacation as suggested by the presidency.
Atiku in a statement by his media office on Wednesday, was reacting to the claims by Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali that the former VP is on sabbatical in the All Progressives Congress, APC, and will soon return to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
The presidential aide had while receiving 120 support groups of the APC chieftain into the PDP on Tuesday, said, “Atiku is a PDP man to the core but he has gone on vacation and I believe one day he too will come back to the party.
My only prayer is that he comes back before the general election this year so that he can support Mr. President fully to ensure our success”.
But Atiku noted that the demands of the Nigeria of today cannot afford him the luxury of a vacation from politics.
“You know, it’s funny how some people put politics and vacation in the same sentence. Let me assure you: politics is a serious business, it is hard work, and for me at least, it is more than a full time job. I really don’t know how you can seriously think of taking a vacation, in a country like ours, with the politics we have”, he said.
“I did that when we built the great assemblage of the finest men and women under the umbrella of the PDP toget rid of the generals; I did that when I left and returned to the PDP, and I did that when I helped to turn the APC into a serious opposition party.
“When I toured our country, and listened to the hopes, fears, and expectations of Nigerians from all walks of life, I said theAPC is the final bus stop, and that it is the end of the line. Because it is, for me”,the ex-vice president maintained.
He, however, acknowledged that on the long walk to democracy, one may come to a point where he has to go where no buses have gone.“So some say I’m a PDP man to the core.I’m asking you, what does this even mean? what is the PDP?” he queried.
“You know where I stand: I want a competitive democracy, true federalism, a government that creates conditions for people and business to thrive, and keeps out of business and people’s lives, and I want a country that is united and proud of its diversity.“
Do you think this is what the PDP stands for and do you think this is what the APC can deliver?” he queried.
