Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has said that for him, politics is not just a vocation, but a life time calling to which he would devote the rest of his life.
He made it clear that he did not have the luxury of going on a vacation from politics because of the demands of the Nigeria.
The former Vice President who was reacting to the claims by an aide to President Jonathan that he (Atiku) was on sabbatical, and will soon return to the ruling PDP, said that the nature of his politics is full time and leaves no room for a vacation.
“You know, it’s funny how some people put politics and vacation in the same sentence. Let me assure you: politics is a serious business, it is hard work, and for me at least, it is more than a full time job. I really don’t know how you can seriously think of taking a vacation, in a country like ours, with the politics we have,” Atiku is quoted to have said in a statement by his media office in Abuja.
“As a patriot and democrat, I’m always seeking what is best for Nigeria. I did that when we built the great assemblage of the finest men and women under the umbrella of the PDP to get rid of the generals; I did that when I left and returned to the PDP, and I did that when I helped to turn the APC into a serious opposition party. When I toured our country, and listened to the hopes, fears, and expectations of Nigerians from all walks of life, I said the APC is the final bus stop, and that it is the end of the line. Because it is, for me.”
Atiku Abubakar, however, acknowledged that on the long walk to democracy, one could come to a point where one has to go where no buses have gone, adding: “some say I’m a PDP man to the core: I’m asking, what does this even mean. What is the PDP?”
Atiku emphasised that what he wanted was a competitive democracy, true federalism, a government that creates conditions for people and business to thrive, and keeps out of business and people’s lives, “and I want a country that is united and proud of its diversity.”
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