Atiku’s Exit: Paul Ibe Tells Keyamo to Go to Court

The Media Aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has slammed Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for his remarks regarding Atiku’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ibe said Atiku has done nothing wrong by his decision to dump the PDP or use the Nigerian Coat of Arms logo in his correspondences.

Ibe, who made his position known during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, questioned Keyamo’s credentials and accused the Minister of displaying sycophancy towards his principal.

He urged Keyamo to go to court if he is not pleased with the happenings in Atiku’s camp.

Keyamo had faulted Atiku over the timing of his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and his use of the Nigerian Coat of Arms in his resignation letter made public on Wednesday.

“Where was Keyamo when Atiku Abubakar was in the frontline battling the military and eventually, with other compatriots, able to get them out? Where was he? He is just playing to the gallery. Sycophancy is the end game.

“Nobody is impersonating anybody. Atiku Abubakar is a former vice president. That is known. I don’t want to dignify him (Keyamo). He can go to court if he wants to,” Ibe said.

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In his response, Ibe also faulted claims that Atiku is too old to run for Nigeria’s presidency. He argued that Atiku is healthy and strong.

“Atiku Abubakar too old? Says who? The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, is 79, and we are modelling our democracy after that of the United States. So, what are we talking about? Is Atiku Abubakar healthy? Is he strong? Does he have any infirmity?” Ibe asked.

Ibe said it is up to Atiku himself to determine if the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) would be his final political party.

“Mr Atiku Abubakar will determine that. I believe that the coalition offers a great prospect to reclaim and to rebuild Nigeria,” the media aide submitted.

Ibe further urged Keyamo to focus on his job as a Minister and address the various challenges facing Nigeria’s aviation sector instead of dabbling in Atiku’s political affairs.

“It is unfortunate that Minister Keyamo is majoring on minors, and this gives an indication of how he runs the Ministry of Aviation.

“I believe he has a whole lot on his plate to deal with – issues of infrastructure in our airports, runways, broken toilets in some of the toilets – and he still has time to talk about the resignation of someone in the PDP,” he stated.

Atiku’s aide also condemned the handling of Nigeria’s economy by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying the government has caused hardship for many citizens.

“In the last two years, we have seen a deterioration of our democratic process. Instruments of state, including and not limited even the anti-corruption agencies, are used to coerce politicians into the APC. This is not what democracy is about; democracy is about people making choices,” he said.