I Didn’t Betray Tinubu, He Owes Me – Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cleared the air over claims that he betrayed his long time friend, President Bola Tinubu.

While fielding questions from newsmen in a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, the former vice president maintained that Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State owes him an appreciation for not losing the state to PDP, the then ruling party.

Atiku said, “In 2007, we came together to form a political party and in Lagos, at the convention, I emerged the winner of the primary election for the presidential flag bearer. After I got the ticket, he sent about six senior members to me to be my running mate but I rejected the offer because of Muslim-Muslim ticket. And that was the end of the political relationship, he broke away and went to support Umaru Yar’adua.

“What is the ground to say I betrayed him? For those of you who are old enough, you will remember that in 2003, the PDP took over all the Southwestern states, with the exception of Lagos. I stood between him and Obasanjo and told him he can’t take over Lagos. I told him to leave it and he left it. So, who is indebted to the other, is it me or Tinubu? There are other things which I will not want to go into. But I deny that I did not betray him.”

The former VP maintained that he will not support a Muslim-Muslim ticket because the nation’s government should reflect the diversity.