Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has said that his principal was already a wealthy man long before entering public office, adding that he personally funded the purchase of Wadata Plaza, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national secretariat in Abuja.

Ibe said this while addressing speculations about Atiku’s personal fortune when he featured on Trust TV’s Daily Politics.

“Atiku single-handedly bought the Wadata Plaza for the PDP. That was how wealthy he was before entering government,” Ibe said.

“There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, and his money was legitimate.”

Ibe also explained why the former vice president has not yet declared his interest in the 2027 presidential race, saying Atiku is focused on strengthening his political base within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.

“Atiku Abubakar will not fall for that bait. The real work now is putting structures in place so that when the tsunami begins, the platform will be ready to carry everyone who will align and realign,” he said.

He clarified that Atiku’s recent BBC Hausa interview had been misinterpreted, stressing that the former vice president did not state he was stepping aside for a younger aspirant.

On zoning, Ibe argued that Nigerians were more concerned about effective leadership than regional origins.

“The internal polls we have done show Nigerians don’t care where the next president comes from. They are more concerned with credible leadership. People are struggling to survive. They want someone with the right skills, not tribe or tongue,” he said.

Ibe also addressed questions about Atiku’s personal wealth and longstanding controversies, insisting that the former vice president was already a billionaire before 1999.

“Atiku single-handedly bought the Wadata Plaza for the PDP. That was how wealthy he was before entering government. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, and his money was legitimate,” he explained.

On the recurring debate over zoning, Ibe dismissed it as increasingly irrelevant to Nigerians’ priorities.

“The internal polls we have done show Nigerians don’t care where the next president comes from. They are more concerned with credible leadership. People are struggling to survive. They want someone with the right skills, not tribe or tongue,” he said.

He also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of favouring a privileged elite at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.

“Average Nigerians cannot be asked to tighten their belts while leaders live in affluence and steal the country blind. These policies are only working for the urban bandits, not the rest of Nigerians,” he said.

Ibe described Atiku as one of Nigeria’s most consistent politicians, pointing out that he has won most party primaries he has contested, except in 2014 when Muhammadu Buhari defeated him.

Ibe further described Atiku as a consistent democrat who encourages open competition.

“As a democrat, Atiku’s policy is the more the merrier. He will never block anyone who feels they have something to offer. Let everyone go to the field and test their popularity,” he said.

Atiku, who has aligned with the ADC coalition alongside former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai, has yet to make a formal declaration about 2027.

“When do you serve a meal? You serve it when it is ready,” Ibe remarked, comparing Atiku’s careful timing to the patience of serving food at the right moment. (Daily Trust)