PDP chieftain and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has mocked PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, as election results are announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Our candidate, H.E. Atiku Abubakar (aka ‘Atiku is coming’) should accept defeat in maturity and retire peacefully to Dubai.
At this juncture, may I say good night and good bye to all you represent,” Fayose shared in a tweet.
Our candidate, H.E. Atiku Abubakar (aka ‘Atiku is coming’) should accept defeat in maturity and retire peacefully to Dubai.
At this juncture, may I say good night and good bye to all you represent.— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) February 27, 2023
Atiku has always been criticised for spending most of his time in functional and better developed Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where he basically resides these days, as his own nation suffers perennial underdevelopment and rising poverty.
Atiku is trailing Tinubu in the nationwide results released thus far by the electoral umpire INEC, and in nationwide projections.
Fayose was accused of anti-party activities before the general elections, and famously boycotted the PDP presidential campaign rally in Ekiti State ahead of the vote.
Fayose had also become chummy with APC Presidential candidate Bola Tinubu; and it was rumoured that both men of southwest (Yoruba) extraction, struck a deal before the elections.
Fayose is an ally of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers who formed a group of rebellious PDP governors who worked against Atiku before the presidential election.
Wike, Fayose and other PDP Governors are of the opinion that it is the turn of the South to produce Nigeria’s next President, after the reign of the incumbent (a northerner) elapses in May.
Atiku, like President Muhammadu Buhari, is a Fulani of northern extraction.
Wike and the G5 group of governors had also insisted that it is unfair for the national Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, and the party’s presidential flag-bearer, to hail from the same region.
“‘Almighty’ Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman, even lost his Ward and Local Government to another party after cashing out like a man struck and stuck with poverty.
As it is now, PDP turning around to cry foul has no place with Nigerians. Not at all,” Fayose added.
Fayose, Wike and other G5 Governors, had gone ahead to work against Atiku, a member of their political party, in their respective states.