The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s comment yesterday that northerners do not need an Igbo or Yoruba president but a president who hails from the north, has continued to attract angry reactions from across the country.

Most Nigerians, who spoke to NewsOrient today expressed surprise, anger and disappointment that a candidate, who needs the votes of all Nigerians to emerge Nigerian President in 2023, would make such a comment at a time like this.

The former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, who hails from Adamawa State in the north-east, was quoted as allegedly saying at the interactive session of the Arewa Townhall Policy Dialogue in Kaduna, on Saturday, that what the North need is a President who is from the North, and not a President who is Igbo or Yoruba.

He allegedly told his audience, most of who are northerners, mostly Hausa  and Fulani: “I have traversed the whole of this country…

“I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, and who also understands the other parts of Nigeria and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.

“This is what the northerner needs. He (northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate, or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin.”

Since this his latest submission was reported, many Nigerians have expressed anger and disappointment at Atiku’s message to the North.

“It is a shame that this is the worldview of a man some of us mistakenly described as a Nigerian leader. It shows what he would do if elected president,” says Mr Bassey Ufot, adding that “Nigerian voters in 2023 are out to elect a Nigerian President not ethnic champions that have been masquerading as Nigerian leaders.”

For Mrs Funke Ogendeji, who responded from Matogun in Ogun State: “If Alhaji Atiku Abubakar actually made this reckless statement to Hausa and Fulani voters in Kaduna, then he has no moral right to come to Lagos or  Ogun states to seek our votes. He should go and become a northern President.”

For Nze Nkemakolam Amadi, who responded from Awka in Anambra State: “The PDP candidate has only exposed his real self. Those who claimed he is a nationalist should henceforth shut up.

We have heard him; we have heard him tell the North that what they need is a President who is  from the North, we are therefore waiting for him to come to Enugu, here in Awka, in Onitsha, Owerri, Abakaliki, Umuahia, Aba and in Port Harcourt and convince us on why we need another northern Fulani President immediately after Muhammdu Buhari.”