Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has pledged that the Yoruba people will hold key positions in his administration if elected President in 2027, dismissing fears of Hausa-Fulani domination.
Atiku, who is married to a Yoruba woman, described the Yoruba as “one of the finest species of humanity,” stressing the personal and familial bonds he shares with them. “For this reason, the interest of the Yoruba will always occupy a central place in my policy making and governance, if by the special grace of Allah I become President in 2027,” he stated.
He explained that such fears of northern domination are unfounded, as the Yoruba are his “larger extended family and in-laws.” His media consultant, Kola Johnson, issued the statement in which Atiku further declared: “The bond uniting me with the Yoruba is like that of a family. Individually and collectively, they occupy a special place in my heart.”
The former Vice President highlighted his marriage to Titi Atiku Abubakar from Ijesa, Osun State, with whom he has four Yoruba children. “She is now over 75 years old, and we are still together. My children with Titi sometimes call me ‘Baba Rere,’ meaning good father,” he revealed.
Atiku praised the Yoruba for their sophistication and educational achievements, saying: “They are so advanced that anyone who underestimates them does so at great risk. My Ijesa-born wife is more than a wife — she is my jewel of inestimable value.”
He added that Yoruba individuals have consistently ranked among his closest friends and associates in both public and private life.
