News
‘Go Home, We’ll Take Care of You’ — Kwankwaso Urges Atiku to Quit 2027 Race
Former Kano State Governor and Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has called on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition and return to his hometown in Adamawa State.
Kwankwaso made the comment while addressing members of the Fulani Farmers Association at his residence in Abuja.
The former Kano governor urged people from Adamawa State to speak with Atiku and persuade him to return home and focus on his traditional responsibilities.
He said Atiku, who is the Waziri of Adamawa, should consider his age and physical condition before deciding to contest another presidential election.
Kwankwaso said those from Adamawa should appeal to the former vice-president to leave the presidential contest and assured that he would be properly taken care of if he returned home.
He said: “Tell the Waziri of Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar, in Fulfulde, to return to his hometown and give proper attention to his chieftaincy responsibilities, considering his age and physical condition. We promise that we will take care of him.
“Those of you who come from Adamawa should know how to appeal to him and make him understand.”
The statement represents another direct intervention by Kwankwaso in the political contest surrounding Atiku as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.
Both politicians have been prominent figures in Nigeria’s opposition politics.
Kwankwaso and Atiku were previously part of the same opposition realignment before they changed and the two eventually moved into separate camps.
Atiku is currently seeking another opportunity to contest the presidency, while Kwankwaso is running as Peter Obi’s running mate on the NDC platform.
The NDC ticket was formally adopted as the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
Kwankwaso also questioned whether Nigeria at this stage requires Atiku to return to the presidential contest.
The former Kano governor argued that the country of today is different from the Nigeria of several decades ago when Atiku first became a major force in national politics.
“The Nigeria of today is no longer the kind of country that is suitable for him to rule. Nigeria was better suited for him about 30 years ago, especially in 1993,” he said.
He went on to recall his political relationship with Atiku during the political developments of the early 1990s.
Kwankwaso was a member of the House of Representatives at the time and served as Deputy Speaker.
Atiku was also an influential figure within the political movement of the period.
Kwankwaso said he had personally supported Atiku during the political process in Jos in 1993.
“When we went to Jos at that time, I was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and we voted for him,” he said.
Atiku has remained active in the opposition camp and is expected to contest the presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The former vice-president has previously contested the presidency several times.
He was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections but lost to President Bola Tinubu in 2023 after finishing second.
Atiku has maintained that his experience and capacity make him qualified to seek the highest political office in the country.
Kwankwaso, however, has now openly questioned the suitability of such a bid, pointing instead to Atiku’s age and long political career.
The two politicians have a long history of interaction within Nigeria’s opposition politics.
In March 2026, Atiku received Kwankwaso at his residence in Abuja during a period when opposition politicians were exploring possible cooperation ahead of the 2027 election.
Atiku later visited Kwankwaso in Kano in April, describing him as a brother and political partner.
The meeting took place when both men were still associated with the ADC and were publicly promoting opposition unity.
That political understanding later changed.
Kwankwaso and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi eventually left the ADC and joined the NDC in May.
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JOS GHETTO STORIES
Your Beginning Is Not Your Ending.
Welcome to Jos Ghetto Stories — a new Jos Events series created to tell the stories that are often overlooked, but should never be forgotten.
From the narrow streets of Gangare, Nasarawa, Angwan Rogo, Jenta-Adamu, Congo-Russia, Tudun Wada, Katako, Dadin Kowa, Bukuru and other communities across Jos, there are children growing up surrounded by challenges many of us may never fully understand.
Some wake up without knowing where their next meal will come from.
Some go to school with torn shoes.
Some live in crowded homes, struggle to afford basic needs, or watch their parents battle every day just to keep the family going.
And some are already beginning to believe that because they were born into hardship, hardship is all life has to offer them.
But we are here to tell them something different.
YOU CAN STILL BECOME GREAT.
Your address does not determine your destiny.
The street you grew up on does not decide the height you can reach.
Poverty may be part of your story, but it does not have to be the final chapter.
Look at Jos.
This city has produced and nurtured people who have gone on to make their mark far beyond the streets where their journeys began.
John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa went from Jos to becoming aome of Nigeria’s most recognisable footballers, they all grew up from the Ghetto streets of Jos and made it in life through football to the point of representing Nigeria at the highest level.
Jeremiah Gyang, M.I Abaga and Ice Prince carried the sound and creativity of Jos into the Nigerian music industry and beyond.
P-Square and 2Baba are among the major names whose stories are connected to Jos.
Saint Obi,Dayo Okeniyi took their journey from Jos into international acting, while filmmakers Dimbo Atiya and Kenneth Gyang, have used film to tell stories that travel far beyond home.
And there are many more whose names may not yet be famous—but whose stories prove that greatness can rise from ordinary beginnings. 
So when we walk through the streets of Jos and meet these children, we are not looking at “ghetto children.”
We are looking at future doctors, engineers, footballers, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, teachers, leaders, creatives and nation builders.
We are looking at potential.
We are looking at dreams waiting for an opportunity.
Because sometimes, all a child needs is somebody to look them in the eyes and say:
“I believe in you.”
That is what Jos Ghetto Stories is about.
We will tell the stories of the streets.
We will show the struggles.
We will celebrate the talent.
We will listen to the dreams.
And most importantly, we will remind every young person watching that you can become the best version of yourself, regardless of where you started.
Your parents may not have everything.
Your environment may not be perfect.
You may not have the opportunities others have.
But never allow your circumstances to convince you that you cannot become somebody.
The world may see a child from the slum.
We see a future star.
The world may see a difficult beginning.
We see a story waiting to become extraordinary.
This is Jos Ghetto Stories.
Stories from the streets.
Stories of struggle.
Stories of hope.
Stories of talent.
Stories of resilience.
Stories of people who refuse to let their circumstances define them.
Because from the streets of Jos, greatness can rise.
And perhaps, the next great story is the child standing beside you.
JOS EVENTS PRESENTS: JOS GHETTO STORIES.
Your Beginning Is Not Your Ending.
Dream. Believe. Rise.
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