Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has committed to prioritizing the protection of the Yoruba community, countering the belief that his election could lead to the dominance of other ethnic groups by the Hausa/Fulani.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja via his media consultant, Kola Johnson, Atiku emphasized his deep personal and familial connections to the Southwest region, noting that the Yoruba people are fundamentally his extended family and in-laws.
Atiku is seeking their support in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, assuring them and other ethnic groups in the nation of his unwavering support should he be elected to office.
He stated, “I consider myself exceptionally fortunate to have had a wife from this esteemed group of humanity, which signifies that the bond connecting me to the Yoruba is akin to a familial genetic bond.
“This is why the Yoruba, both as individuals and as a collective, have always held a special place in my heart. It is also for this reason that the interests of the Yoruba will always be paramount in my policymaking and governance if, by the special Grace of Allah, I am fortunate enough to become president in 2027.
“Thus, the concern that my rise to the presidency could result in Hausa/Fulani dominance over the Yoruba or other ethnic groups is not only unfounded but also completely baseless, as the entire Yoruba community is my larger extended family and in-laws.
“In case you are unaware or have forgotten, I married my first wife, Titi, a Yoruba woman, in the 1970s, and we have four Yoruba children together. She is now over 75 years old, and we remain together.
“My children with Titi sometimes refer to me as ‘Baba Rere’, which means good father. I am deeply in love with my children and strive to be a good father to them, as I encourage every father to do the same for their children.
“Those who are acquainted with me will attest, with utmost sincerity, that I am inherently a person who is highly detribalised. Long before I embarked on a political journey, I seamlessly and effortlessly connected with individuals from various tribes, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and any other sectarian distinctions.”
