Why Atiku Turned Against Jonathan in 2015: Insider Reveals Untold Political Rift
Demola Olarenwaju, Senior Political Assistant to Atiku Abubakar, a leading chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has offered fresh context on the long-discussed political rift that reshaped the 2015 elections. His remarks, obtained by PulseNets during a weekend X Space conversation themed “APC Must Go,” revisit the events that led the former Vice President to withdraw support from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Olarenwaju, while addressing participants, reflected on the political dynamics of that period and the underlying motivations that shaped key decisions. He noted that his perspective was shaped both by his interactions with Atiku and by his personal hopes for a more functional country.
According to him, “Most of the answers I’m going to give tonight are not just based on my deliberations with Atiku — they come from my personal desire to see Nigeria work better for everyone.”
He further explained that political alignment for him has always been about where his interests, and the interests of ordinary Nigerians, are best served. “If Nigeria is better, my life is better and easier as a Nigerian,” he stressed, adding that his past political choices reflected that principle, including his support for Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Olarenwaju said he understood the political motivations behind Atiku’s stance at the time. “Their interests were simply not aligned. Atiku’s political interest then did not match Goodluck Jonathan’s, and that’s why he felt the need to move against Jonathan,” he noted.
He emphasised that Jonathan’s alleged breach of an existing understanding contributed significantly to the fallout. “Did he have the right to move against Jonathan? Of course he did — Jonathan had betrayed a gentleman’s agreement,” he stated.
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While distancing himself from reopening old political controversies, Olarenwaju maintained that his approach to politics is guided by personal and national interest. “I look at the political space through the prism of my own reality. Who is making life better for Nigerians? Where are my interests best served?” he concluded.
