Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
By Chuks Okocha
Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Tuesday said he was yet to decide on whether or not to contest the 2015 presidential election, as he was still consulting with his political associates and other stakeholders.
Coordinator of Atiku Media Office, Garba Shehu, told THISDAY in Abuja Tuesday that it was because of the ongoing consultations that Atiku had not made a categorical statement on his political future.
He said: “I am in politics not because it offers me the opportunity to be somebody, but because it offers me the opportunity to serve my country. However, the course of time will determine my formal declaration of interest. I am still consulting across the country and within my party.”
Although he did not provide specific commitment, Atiku said as a politician, he would always be involved in the affairs of his country, adding: “Only God knows what is in store for everyone of us.”
He said any definitive declaration of aspiration at this stage could amount to jumping the gun because his decision to run would depend on many complex factors.
Despite speculations about his political future, the former Vice-President said the course of events would determine his formal decision.
He explained that he had no right to stop any group from meeting in a democracy, adding, however, that he would rather seek his aspiration within the larger Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fold than on any other political platform.
Atiku said he perceived politics as a vehicle to serve and that even billionaire Ross Perot of the United States aspired to be president because of the passion to serve.
However, despite his statement that he had not made up his mind on his political future, there are indications that he is warming up to play a major role in the next general elections.
Signs of Atiku’s renewed bid for the presidency emerged with the frantic renovation of his media campaign office which although was never closed but had operated at skeletal level.
Until now, the former vice-president has kept Nigerians guessing about his ambition for the nation’s highest public office in 2015.
THISDAY investigations revealed that although President Goodluck Jonathan is non-committal about whether or not he will run in 2015, Northern political contenders like Atiku are not leaving anything to chances.