Former Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has assured that the Yoruba people will play prominent roles in his administration if elected President in 2027, dismissing fears of Hausa-Fulani domination.
In a statement issued by his media consultant, Kola Johnson, Atiku praised the Yoruba as “one of the finest species of humanity” and stressed his personal and familial ties to the ethnic group.
“It is also for this reason that the interest of the Yoruba will always occupy a topmost place in my policymaking and governance if, by the special grace of Allah, I am elected president in 2027,” he said.
Atiku, who is married to a Yoruba woman, described the Yoruba as his “larger extended family and in-laws,” emphasizing that his relationship with them transcends politics. “The fear that my ascension to the presidency might lead to Hausa-Fulani domination over Yoruba or other ethnic groups is absolutely unfounded,” he added.
Highlighting his family ties, the former vice president noted that his first wife, Titi Atiku Abubakar, hails from Ijesa in Osun State. “We have four Yoruba children together. She is now over 75 years old, and we are still together. My children with Titi sometimes call me Baba Rere, meaning ‘good father.’”
Atiku also praised the Yoruba for their sophistication and educational advancement. “The Yoruba are so sophisticated and highly educated that you can only toy with them at your own peril. My Ijesa-born Yoruba wife is more than a wife to me — she is my jewel of inestimable value.”
He stressed that Yoruba people have consistently been among his closest friends and associates in both public and private life.
Atiku concluded by reaffirming that his government, if elected, would reflect inclusivity and fairness, with the Yoruba holding a special place in his heart and administration.
