Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated he is not fully visible in the campaign rallies and programmes of the presidential candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari, because the campaign secretariat has refused to invite or consult with him in its programmes.

In an interview with the Hausa service of the BBC monitored Friday morning, the former VP said he has paid his dues as far as politics is concerned in the country because he has participated in many presidential campaigns in the past.

“I campaigned for late Shehu Yar’Adua twice successfully,” he said. “We did that of Abiola, Obasanjo and for myself.

“I am not a light weight politician, whoever needs my presence should contact and extend invitation to me.”
Atiku said he has already made his feelings known to the Director General of the Buhari campaign organisation, Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

“They need to check the strategy they are adopting and I made that clear to the campaign DG, Rotimi Amaechi and I told him that if you don’t consult or invite me, you will not see me,” he said.
Asked whether his remarks meant there was crisis in the APC, Atiku said the situation has not degenerated to that extent.

Atiku, however, said although he had “issues and reservations” with the way the campaign was being run, he expressed the view that it was not too late to make amends.

The former vice president also said he was confident the APC will win the elections.
“APC will win because everyone is tired with the current administration,” he said. “So, despite the challenges in APC, change will surely come.”