Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed that he usually addresses one of his predecessors, Atiku Abubakar, as ‘Baba’ (a colloquial term for father) in private conversations.

However, he told the former Vice President to expect more political jabs from him when the 2027 general elections come around, regardless of the respect he accords him.

The former Borno State Governor made the humorous remarks while recognising dignitaries at a symposium to commemorate the 60th birthday of Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State, in Abuja on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

While acknowledging Atiku’s presence at the event, Shettima recalled his role in the 2023 presidential election campaigns. He stated that he acted as an agent provocateur who fired hot shots at Atiku.

However, he noted that Atiku, being an elder statesman, had calmly taken political criticisms.

His comments drew laughter from the audience, with the former Vice President himself releasing a smile.

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“The trajectory of global growth is facing Africa, and Nigeria must make or break that future. Nigeria must work for Africa to work. I beg all our leaders here, let’s unite for the common good of our people,” he said.

Atiku, who contested the 2023 presidential election against Shettima’s principal, President Bola Tinubu, has been making the news recently with his allegation that the incumbent administration was undermining democracy and attempting to weaken the opposition.

He claimed that some opposition chieftains confided in him that the presidency offered them a N50 million bribe to dilute their influence.

Atiku reiterated his call to all opposition parties and leaders to close ranks to form a coalition to unseat the Tinubu-led administration in 2027.

Former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi has said the political class, including President Bola Tinubu, would not willingly cede power to the younger generation.

The former two-term Rivers State Governor stressed that power must be fought for, noting that politicians often resort to extreme measures to win elections.

He made this known during the week-long national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, which the African Centre organised for Leadership, Strategy and Development in Abuja.

Amaechi harped on the need for political vigilance, warning that the political class won’t leave the scene without a push from the citizens.

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He also urged Nigerians always to safeguard their votes if they intend to achieve a semblance of credible leadership.

“None of you here seated can defend the votes. If you have complained, complain, Nigerians have been clapping for you,” he said.

“The only way Ibrahim Shekarau became governor was because people lined up.

“It happened in Ghana before the election of the last president. Two days later, a lot of us were called to intervene. But why did they do that? The people were ready to die.

“You are talking and abusing everybody. Nobody has power and will give it to you — not even me. If you want a pastor as president, go and get one.

“The politician is there in Nigeria to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time.”

Amaechi issues wake-up call

Recounting his experience before the 2025 presidential election, which saw the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he attributed the former’s success to the determination and preparedness of the party’s leaders to go the extra mile.

The former minister noted that then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan only conceded defeat because he realised that the APC was well-prepared to defend its mandate. He asked citizens to adopt similar measures in future elections.

Recall that the former Governor, in October last year, voiced his disappointment in Nigerians for their laid-back disposition toward the prevailing economic hardship.

ALSO READ: Your call for protest over hardship is inciteful – APC blasts Amaechi

“The people should be angry. There should be protests. Not even protests against anybody but against the politicians that ‘we won’t vote,’” he had said.

In response, the ruling party blasted Amaeshi, accusing him of being part of the group that destroyed the country.

Chief Olabode George, Chieftain, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), says 2027 will be disastrous for the former ruling party unless it unites and wields the big stick on characters destroying it.

George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, made this remark at a news conference on Friday in Lagos at his Ikoyi residence.

He was reacting to the party’s lingering national leadership crisis.

“We’ve found ourselves in our current situation due to a self-inflicted crisis. We should bury our individual ambitions now and not allow the PDP to crumble.

“Elders of the party should tell those funny characters to calm down.

“Unless we are united, with equity, fairness and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken, this party will be heading to disaster in 2027,” he said.

George, a dedicated life member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), said he was compelled to raise the alarm about a matter requiring urgent attention in the party.

The PDP chieftain described the fight over the position of national secretary as a national embarrassment and shame.

“What happened on Wednesday during the 79th meeting of this August body in Abuja is despicable, horrific, inhuman, wicked and unheard of.

“The individuals who orchestrated the use of thugs to invade our party secretariat acted shamelessly, and this action must be condemned by all of us who value democracy.

“It is disheartening that the PDP, the bastion of civility, humility, decorum, harmony and respect for the rule of law since 1998 when elders formed it, seems to be losing these values,” he said.

According to him, the party’s founders did not allow their interests to overshadow the party’s collective interests.

He listed some of the founding fathers as Chief Solomon Lar, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Bola Ige, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Chief Sunday Afolabi.

George said that the current leaders of the party were now dancing on the graves of some of these elders.

He said the current situation arose from the actions of specific disloyal party members who are hell-bent on destroying it.

“I strongly believe this should also be considered a serious offense that should not be condoned. What happened on Wednesday was horrendous, terrible and dreadful.

“We are all aware that our party’s National Secretariat in Abuja is sacred. All members and non-members must respect the premises.

“It is sacrilegious that thugs were hired to enter the premises to unleash mayhem, disrupting the 79th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting.

“If that could happen, then what do you think those who sponsored the thugs will do during National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings?

“I have consistently stated that those with a belligerent attitude if they are not ready to repent, should be shown the way out.

“As the largest party in Africa, PDP should not be turned into an ‘Agbero’ party by any member with an inordinate ambition. We have rules and regulations that govern our party,” George said.

According to him, if the PDP is indeed serious as a party, the party leadership should convene the two opposing factions for a peace meeting.

“If they are not ready to embrace peace, they should step aside and allow the party to move past the current turmoil—enough of this arrant nonsense.

“As leaders, we must not allow anybody to destroy our party because PDP is the only actual national party. The APC is just a mere congregation of strange bedfellows.

“This is the time to show members working against our party the way out. No sentiment at all. Anything else will be suicidal,” he said.

Decrying the situation in which party officers were attacked and dragged out of the hall by thugs, he said: “What a desecration of our office! This is profanity of the highest order.”

He called the party’s leadership to wield the big stick on characters destroying it.

“Nobody is too big to be disciplined by our party. Also, nobody is too important to be expelled. Only patriotic members of our party are indispensable.

“If you think you are a member of our party and are arrogantly working against us, I can tell you that your days are numbered.

“A divided house can never be united. You cannot sleep soundly when you have snakes in your bedroom. That is exactly the situation in PDP today,” he added.

Regarding the current economic situation, George called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure sustainable policies, saying that Nigerians are angry and hungry because of these policies.

“You (Tinubu) must alleviate the suffering of the people now. 2025 is key because by 2026, politicking for the 2027 elections will start.

“So, 2025 is crucial to turn around the fortune of this country and make Nigerians safe and secure in their fatherland,” he said.

On the new world order, George urged the country to prepare for the far-right wind blowing across the world with Donald Trump’s emergence as the 47th President of the United States (U.S.).

“We are having a new world order which, if not carefully handled, may snowball into a dangerous conflict in the comity of nations,” he said.