Bwala to Atiku: Presidency May Not Be Your Destiny

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to consider that it may not be God’s will for him to lead Nigeria. Speaking during an interview on TVC, Bwala addressed issues surrounding political succession and the direction of opposition politics, suggesting that Atiku accept the reality of his political journey and work with Tinubu’s administration.

“If I have the opportunity to meet him face to face, what I will tell him is just this: ‘Your Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, you have to believe in destiny,’” Bwala said. “God gives power to whomsoever He chooses. And it seems from the facts on the ground that it may not have been the will of God for you to govern Nigeria.”

Bwala encouraged the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate to collaborate with Tinubu to help build the country, noting that legacy can be achieved in many forms. “Since you have been a friend to President Bola Tinubu for many years, come together and bring your contribution towards the Nigeria that both of you wanted to create for the Nigerian people,” he said. “Your legacy will be that in your political dying days, you will be able to achieve some of your dreams, albeit through your friend.”

He warned that a continued insistence on pursuing the presidency might lead to an unfulfilling political end. According to Bwala, Atiku has already lost a significant portion of his political base, with 60 to 70 percent of his loyalists now gone. He added that younger politicians formerly aligned with Abubakar are now seeking their own paths to power and appear unwilling to turn back.

Bwala’s comments come amid a wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), fueling speculation that more prominent figures, including some governors, may soon join the APC. In March, Abubakar stated he was uncertain about contesting the 2027 presidency and emphasized the need for a strong platform before making such a decision.