“Atiku Is Nigeria’s Last Hope Before the Country Risks Becoming a Banana Republic” – Aide

Demola Olarewaju, a former aide to Atiku Abubakar, has warned that Nigeria faces prolonged stagnation if the former vice-president does not assume the presidency.

Olarewaju made the statement amid ongoing debates within activist circles about whether Atiku deserves support ahead of the 2027 elections. He noted that some activists hesitate due to Atiku’s extensive political career and perceived links to the country’s longstanding challenges.

According to Olarewaju, such criticisms overlook Atiku’s pivotal contributions during what he described as the most successful reform period in Nigeria since 1999. He highlighted the eight-year administration of Olusegun Obasanjo as a “golden era,” during which Atiku led major domestic reforms that aligned the country with global standards.

Among these achievements, Olarewaju cited Nigeria’s debt relief and the creation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which came after international partners demanded stronger anti-corruption measures. He added that the original plan was for Obasanjo to hand over power to Atiku in 2007 to continue these reforms, but this was derailed by the failed attempt at a third term.

Olarewaju further noted that subsequent administrations reversed many of these initiatives, halting Nigeria’s reform momentum. He argued that meaningful change in the country often comes through gradual, institutional reforms rather than sudden political upheavals.

He insisted that Atiku has both the political influence and the national support—especially in the north—to implement difficult reforms that others have struggled with. The former aide also emphasized that Atiku has repeatedly taken political risks for nationalist positions, even facing opposition from his own region over constitutional and federalist matters.

Despite being one of Nigeria’s most scrutinized politicians, Olarewaju said, no government has succeeded in securing a conclusive indictment against Atiku. He added: “Few younger politicians command the level of trust Atiku enjoys nationally, a trust essential for executing transformative policies in Nigeria’s multiethnic and multicultural context.

“Even President Jonathan faced fierce opposition from activists and the north when trying to implement reforms. Atiku, however, is arguably the last national federalist to emerge from that region, especially as ethnocentric leaders like Buhari might find common ground with southern politicians such as Bola Tinubu in future elections.”