The presidency has suggested that it may not be God’s will for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to become Nigeria’s president, urging him to accept this reality with grace. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, shared this view during a recent interview on TVC. He spoke about the future of opposition politics and the need for political unity in the country.

Bwala advised Atiku to accept the current political situation and work together with President Tinubu to help build Nigeria’s future. “If I had the chance to meet him, I would say: ‘Your Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, you need to believe in destiny. God grants power to whomever He chooses, and from what we’re seeing, it doesn’t seem like it’s your time to govern Nigeria,’” Bwala said.

He also encouraged Atiku, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to join forces with Tinubu’s administration and leave a meaningful legacy, “even if it’s realized through someone else.”

“There are other ways to contribute,” Bwala continued. “You and President Tinubu have been friends for years—work together and help create the Nigeria you both envision. Your legacy could be one of achieving your dreams through your friend.”

However, Bwala warned that if Atiku insists on running for president again, his political future might not unfold as he hopes. “As we’ve already seen, Atiku has lost a significant portion of his political base—probably 60 to 70 percent. Younger politicians who once followed him are now eager to forge their own path, and they have no plans of backing down,” he said.

Bwala’s comments come as opposition parties see a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Atiku himself has expressed uncertainty about running for the 2027 presidency, stating that it would depend on finding a viable platform.