*It’s Mere Speculation, Says Aide
![image](/2021/07/Justice-Ejembi-Eko-1.jpg")
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A recent memo by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the
leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sparked
speculations about his intention to vie for the party’s
presidential ticket in the 2023 general elections.
![image](/2021/07/escrow-service1.jpg")
Although Atiku was silent on his purported 2023 ambition in the
said the memo dated June 29, 2021, the content is being linked to
his presidential ambition in the media and political space.
An online platform, Ripples Nigeria, which published the memo
verbatim on Saturday, reported that it was the former vice
president’s notice to the PDP of his intention to seek the party’s
presidential ticket in the next election.
Atiku had, in the memo, expressed profound gratitude to members
of the party for the massive support given him during the 2019
elections and stated that the party was now better equipped to win
the 2023 poll.
Among others, he stated in the memo that Nigeria is in the
intensive care unit and called on the PDP to team up with him to
undertake the needed drastic surgery for a new political and
economic order that would lead to the radical reinvention of the
country.
The memo reads in part: “It is with utmost respect that I convey
to you, my deep appreciation and profound gratitude for the
overwhelming support and massive electoral votes cast to support
our party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and my candidature
for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the
2019 general elections.
“Now, we are better equipped, and all our compatriots must team
up today towards a new political and economic order that should
radically reinvent our beloved country.
“We are fully prepared to work in synergy to restore hope, pull
Nigeria back from the brinks and relive the patriotic spirit of our
founding fathers! I believe that together we would rebuild our
broken fences, mend our cracked walls, restore hope, and return
Nigeria to the path of greatness again. Surely, we can, and we
must.”
But in a swift reaction, Atiku’s media adviser, Mr Paul Ibe,
dismissed the insinuation contained in Ripples Nigeria report,
accusing the online platform of peddling speculation in an attempt
to set an agenda for the media.
In a telephone chat with The Nation on Saturday, Ibe said when
the time comes for Atiku to signify his intention to contest, he
would not do so secretly through a blogging site.
Admitting that the memo truly emanated from his principal, he
said there was nothing in it that suggested that it conveyed his
principal’s intention to vie for the PDP ticket.
According to him, there was nothing in the memo that Atiku had
not said before, adding that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and
other prominent Nigerians have expressed similar views on the
polity.
Ibe said: “Have you read the memo? Now tell me where Atiku
indicated interest in the 2023 PDP presidential ticket. You should
know that when the time comes for him to make his intention known
regarding the 2023 election, he will not do so secretly through a
blogging site.
“The media and senior editors should not allow bloggers to set
agenda for them. The memo speaks for itself and the contents were
written in simple English that everyone can read and
understand”.
*It’s Mere Speculation, Says Aide
A recent memo by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the
leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sparked
speculations about his intention to vie for the party’s
presidential ticket in the 2023 general elections.
Although Atiku was silent on his purported 2023 ambition in the
said the memo dated June 29, 2021, the content is being linked to
his presidential ambition in the media and political space.
An online platform, Ripples Nigeria, which published the memo
verbatim on Saturday, reported that it was the former vice
president’s notice to the PDP of his intention to seek the party’s
presidential ticket in the next election.
Atiku had, in the memo, expressed profound gratitude to members
of the party for the massive support given him during the 2019
elections and stated that the party was now better equipped to win
the 2023 poll.
Among others, he stated in the memo that Nigeria is in the
intensive care unit and called on the PDP to team up with him to
undertake the needed drastic surgery for a new political and
economic order that would lead to the radical reinvention of the
country.
The memo reads in part: “It is with utmost respect that I convey
to you, my deep appreciation and profound gratitude for the
overwhelming support and massive electoral votes cast to support
our party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and my candidature
for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the
2019 general elections.
“Now, we are better equipped, and all our compatriots must team
up today towards a new political and economic order that should
radically reinvent our beloved country.
“We are fully prepared to work in synergy to restore hope, pull
Nigeria back from the brinks and relive the patriotic spirit of our
founding fathers! I believe that together we would rebuild our
broken fences, mend our cracked walls, restore hope, and return
Nigeria to the path of greatness again. Surely, we can, and we
must.”
But in a swift reaction, Atiku’s media adviser, Mr Paul Ibe,
dismissed the insinuation contained in Ripples Nigeria report,
accusing the online platform of peddling speculation in an attempt
to set an agenda for the media.
In a telephone chat with The Nation on Saturday, Ibe said when
the time comes for Atiku to signify his intention to contest, he
would not do so secretly through a blogging site.
Admitting that the memo truly emanated from his principal, he
said there was nothing in it that suggested that it conveyed his
principal’s intention to vie for the PDP ticket.
According to him, there was nothing in the memo that Atiku had
not said before, adding that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and
other prominent Nigerians have expressed similar views on the
polity.
Ibe said: “Have you read the memo? Now tell me where Atiku
indicated interest in the 2023 PDP presidential ticket. You should
know that when the time comes for him to make his intention known
regarding the 2023 election, he will not do so secretly through a
blogging site.
“The media and senior editors should not allow bloggers to set
agenda for them. The memo speaks for itself and the contents were
written in simple English that everyone can read and
understand”.