In a surprising encounter on Friday, October 25, 2024, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and his political rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, met face-to-face at the National Mosque in Abuja. The meeting marked their first in-person interaction in about 20 months, since the 2023 presidential election. Their presence at the mosque generated excitement among worshippers attending the Juma’at prayer and the wedding ceremony of former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje’s daughter.
Before this meeting, Tinubu and Atiku had faced off in the 2023 presidential election, a contest that saw both men, along with other presidential hopefuls, sign a Peace Accord to ensure a peaceful election. Tinubu’s victory in the election was subsequently challenged in court by Atiku and Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, and Atiku has since been vocal about his criticism of Tinubu’s policies.
This unexpected encounter, attended by prominent political figures, underscores the continuing influence of these leaders in Nigerian politics.
