Analyst Criticizes Atiku’s Use of Marriages as Political Appeal to Yoruba Voters

A public affairs analyst, Dele Fanimo, has criticized attempts by politicians to use their marriages as evidence of national inclusivity, specifically referencing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s outreach to Yoruba voters.

Speaking on Voice of the People TV, Fanimo questioned the sincerity of such tactics, arguing that marrying across ethnic lines does not necessarily prove genuine commitment to national unity.

“Who is asking him in the first instance to tell us how much he loves Yoruba?” Fanimo asked rhetorically.


He pointed out that Atiku has wives from multiple regions, including the Yoruba, Igbo, and South-South, but maintained that this does not automatically make him a “pan-Nigerian.”

“Titi Atiku is his wife, the same way he also married somebody from Igboland, the same way he also married from the South-South—and that doesn’t make him a pan-Nigerian,” Fanimo said.


The analyst added that Nigerian voters are becoming more discerning about political rhetoric:

“Nigerians are becoming conscious of the lies politicians put up,” he observed.


Extending his criticism beyond Atiku, Fanimo said the issue reflects a broader trend in Nigerian politics.

“It’s not only Atiku. Most politicians, when they need your vote, there is nothing they will not tell you,” he remarked.


His comments echo a growing skepticism among political observers about the sincerity of politicians’ appeals to different ethnic and regional groups during campaigns