Obono-Obla Slams Atiku Over Senegal Election Comment, Urges Opposition Unity

Political commentator and former presidential aide, Obol Okoi Obono-Obla, has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his comments on the recent Senegalese general elections.

In a statement on Saturday, Obono-Obla accused Atiku of having a poor sense of history and lacking the discipline to form a strong opposition political party in Nigeria.

Atiku had previously suggested that Nigerian opposition parties could learn from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s victory in Senegal, highlighting the importance of constitutional democracy in Nigeria and other African countries.

However, Obono-Obla countered this view by pointing out Atiku’s own political history, including his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the Action Congress in 2007.

Obono-Obla argued that Atiku’s actions demonstrate a lack of commitment to building a strong opposition party and questioned his ability to learn from the Senegalese experience.

He emphasized the need for opposition unity in Nigeria, drawing a parallel to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 through the merging of opposition parties.

As Nigeria and other African countries continue to navigate the challenges of democracy, the political landscape remains dynamic and fraught with tensions.

The debate over the role of opposition parties in promoting democracy and good governance is likely to remain a central issue in the region.