My Elder Brother, Boss: Peter Obi Hails Atiku Abubakar on His 79th Birthday

By Emmanuel Kwada

Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has extended warm birthday felicitations to former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as he celebrates his 79th birthday today. In a heartfelt message posted on X earlier this morning, Obi described Atiku as his “very dear elder brother, boss, and elder statesman,” signaling a gesture of goodwill amid the evolving political landscape in Nigeria.

The message, accompanied by a formal portrait of Atiku adorned in traditional blue attire, praised the Waziri Adamawa for his decades of service to the nation, particularly during his tenure as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obi highlighted Atiku’s remarkable fortitude in remaining active in public life well into his golden years, wishing him continued success, prosperity, and an “unending stream of accolades.”

“I join your numerous admirers in wishing you the very best on your 79th birthday anniversary,” Obi wrote.

“May your special day be filled with grandeur befitting your illustrious career. It is my prayer that God Almighty grants you many more healthy, fruitful, and fulfilling years ahead, endowing you with wisdom, strength, and the grace to keep contributing to peace and nation-building.”

The timing of the tribute is notable, coming just a day after Atiku’s official defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on November 24, 2025, a move widely seen as a strategic alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This shift follows years of political rivalry between the two figures, who both contested the 2023 presidential election—Atiku under the PDP and Obi under the LP—only to lose to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Atiku Abubakar, born on November 25, 1946, in Jada, Adamawa State, has had a storied political career, including multiple presidential bids in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. His recent move to the ADC, alongside speculations of a potential coalition with Obi, has fueled discussions about a unified opposition strategy to challenge the APC in the upcoming elections.

As Nigeria navigates its political future, Obi’s birthday message to Atiku stands as a public acknowledgment of their shared history and a possible olive branch in the complex tapestry of Nigerian opposition politics. For now, the nation watches as these elder statesmen continue to shape the discourse on leadership and nation-building.