SAN FRANCISCO, September 11, (THEWILL) – Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has responded to former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, saying he wouldn’t step down for him or for anyone.
Atiku had revealed that he was sure that Lamido would step down for him in the presidential race as both men are running for the ticket of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside about ten other aspirants.
THEWILL recalls that Atiku, at a meeting with PDP leaders in Dutse, Jigawa State on Monday, said he believed Lamido would step down for him because the former governor is his younger brother and shares the same political ideology with him.
He told the gathering that his mother was from Jigawar Sarki, a village in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State before her family migrated to Adamawa State where he was born.
Responding to Atiku’s comment through a statement on Tuesday by his media aide, Adamu Usman, Lamido said he would not step down insisting that he was older than Atiku in terms of politics.
“While it is true that he is older than me age-wise, I’m senior to him politically because I was in the House of Representatives in 1979 when he was an employee of Nigeria Customs Services.
“And if age is the criterion for standing election then he should drop out for Buhari.
“Even if Lamido did not shows interest to contest, PDP should have called him to be the flag bearer and if there is anyone the other aspirants should step down for, it should be Sule Lamido because he has the goodwill, political experience and capacity to confront the ruling party, APC.
“Also if Lamido is to step down, why would he aspire in the first place? Sule Lamido is out to run for the president come 2019 God willing,” Mr Usman stated.
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