By Afolayan Sunday
Former Vice President and the 2027 African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has firmly pushed back against persistent criticisms regarding his age as he gears up for the 2027 general elections.
Addressing public discourse surrounding his age, the veteran politician famously challenged critics: “Do I look 80?”
With the political landscape heating up ahead of 2027, Atiku’s age and fitness for office have remained a focal point for voters and political opponents alike.
However, the former vice president is drawing a hard line, maintaining that his physical capability and mental sharpness remain uncompromised.
Dismissing speculations about his medical fitness, Atiku asserted that no certified medical doctor has ever declared him unfit to rule Nigeria.
Atiku stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday.
“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?” he asked.
When the interviewer corrected him, saying Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku responded, “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”
During the interview, the former vice president also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying the savings from the policy had not been adequately accounted for.
“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku asked.
He said the funds were supposed to help reduce poverty, improve education, address insecurity and create opportunities for young Nigerians.
“Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” he said.
Atiku also promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president, while demanding that anyone who had stolen the money refund it.
“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he said.
He further said the subsidy could have been removed without causing the level of hardship being experienced by Nigerians if the savings had been properly used.
“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went.
“If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” Atiku said.
