Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is set to meet with six northern groups on Monday, October 17, after a tribal-laced comment by Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had told a gathering of northerners at the popular Arewa House in Kaduna that the north does not need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate in 2023.
Tinubu hails from the southwestern part of Nigeria, while Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party is from the southeast.
Atiku’s comments have continued to generate adverse reactions from Nigerians.
But according to Tinubu’s campaign office, the APC presidential candidate was invited for an interactive session with the northern groups.
In a statement by Tunde Rahman, Tinubu’s media officer, the invitation was extended to top candidates in the 2023 presidential election to discuss their plans for the north.
“The APC presidential candidate would attend the event as part of his decision to engage all segments of the Nigerian society with his campaign message of hope, national unity and prosperity,” Rahman said.
“The event, which holds at the Arewa House in Kaduna, is organised by a coalition of six groups from the North namely Arewa Consultative Forum, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Northern Elders Forum, Arewa House, Jam’iyyar Matan Arewa, Arewa Research and Development Project,” he added.