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Atiku replies Tinubu, challenges APC candidate to grant ‘hour long’ interview

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to subject himself to a ‘long’ interview as he (Atiku) recently did.

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Atiku was responding to the statement by the Tinubu Campaign Organisation earlier on Saturday attacking him on some issues he discussed in the interview with Arise TV.

In the interview on Friday, the former vice president attacked the APC and Mr Tinubu for settling for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket for the 2023 election.

He was referring to the choice of former Borno State governor and serving senator, Kashim Shettima, as the running mate to Mr Tinubu.

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Both Messrs Tinubu and Shettima are Muslims.

The Tinubu campaign accused Atiku of illegally enriching himself when he was in government.

The statement by the Director of Media and Communications of the organisation, Bayo Onanuga, also accused the PDP candidate of hypocrisy, spreading falsehood and of having a poor grasp of history and current affairs.

But a statement by Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, on Saturday night, challenged Mr Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview as did Atiku if he was “mentally present” and articulate enough to do so.

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It said Mr Tinubu and his “yes men” were not in a position to criticise Atiku when they had not sat on the ‘hot seat’.

“We would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview, like the Waziri did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk.

“Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat,” the statement said.

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It also responded to other issues the Tinubu campaign raised, including his (Atiku) time in Nigeria Customs Service and academic qualifications.

(Premium Times)