In a direct response to the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, President Bola Tinubu has advised him to reconsider his ambition to lead Nigeria. Tinubu’s remarks came as he dismissed Atiku’s claim that Nigeria is doomed following the recent Supreme Court ruling that dismissed his appeals.

Tinubu reaffirmed his belief in Nigeria’s progress towards achieving its destiny, but countered that Atiku’s presidential ambition is what truly faces inevitable disappointment.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, released a statement on Tinubu’s behalf, asserting: “We want to tell Alhaji Atiku this: Nigeria is not doomed. It is only Atiku’s inordinate ambition to be President that is doomed. Nigeria is moving forward and set to achieve its manifest destiny as one of the most respected and successful nations of the world under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

In light of Atiku’s assertions about Nigerian democracy, Tinubu proudly highlighted the thriving and blossoming state of the nation’s democratic process. He emphasized how the composition of the National Assembly now reflects the diversity and plurality of voters’ choices, in stark contrast to the past where two parties dominated the political landscape.

“In today’s Nigeria, every vote counts. No deliberate distortion of facts about our recent elections by Alhaji Atiku and his partner, Peter Obi, can undermine the continuous improvement of our electoral process, hailed by both local and international observers. The Supreme Court clarified that IReV was not designed as an online collation center but merely a public viewing center for results,” Tinubu remarked.

Furthermore, Tinubu offered a word of advice to Atiku, emphasizing that three decades of unsuccessful attempts to secure the presidency should be reason enough to bow out gracefully. He urged Atiku to abstain from endeavors that could further pollute the political atmosphere and disrupt national harmony.