Real Talk: DSP’s Big Win Was Kwankwaso’s son, Not Abba Atiku -By Abba Dukawa

In politics, defections are common; betrayal of one’s roots is not. Abba Atiku’s actions raise serious questions about judgment and loyalty, casting a shadow over the values expected of those seeking public trust.

This was not merely a politician switching parties. It was deeply personal and symbolic. A crossing of lines, not just carpets—a rejection of lineage, political heritage, and continuity. The image of Atiku Abubakar’s son pledging loyalty to Tinubu was unsettling, with consequences extending beyond party politics into the heart of family bonds. Party defections happen every day; defections of blood are far less common.

That is why Abba’s move resonated so strongly. In contrast, Atiku Abubakar’s response stood out as a lesson in restraint and dignity. Rather than react with anger, he chose composure and maturity—an example many political heavyweights would do well to emulate.

Within African culture, public disagreement by a child can carry deep emotional weight. Yet Atiku Abubakar is not the first father to face political divergence from his son, and he has managed it with professionalism, reinforcing the idea that politics should not erase family ties.

Differences in political belief are normal, even within families. Still, family must come first. History offers examples: SG Ikoku once defeated his father at the polls, and Dr. Alvan Ikoku responded with grace, placing love and respect above politics.

Similarly, Olusola Saraki never disowned Bukola Saraki over party differences. Together, they built enduring political legacies. Frankly, ideological disagreement within a family is far preferable to scandals that permanently stain reputations.
Atiku Abubakar’s reaction to his son’s APC defection reflects leadership.

He neither disowned nor denounced him. Calm, firm, and democratic, his response shows that maturity outweighs ego. It is also important to remember that Atiku’s son is an adult, entitled to his own decisions, wise or otherwise. Every family carries imperfections, yet that does not prevent progress. This episode will not derail Atiku’s political ambition; if anything, it adds complexity to the contest ahead.

Meanwhile, public attention remains misplaced. While we fixate on party switches, the nation grapples with economic decline, worsening insecurity, and widespread despair. Leadership should be measured by competence, character, and results—not merely party labels.

If Abba Atiku Abubakar truly possessed political clout, APC’s Northeast heavyweights would have rolled out the red carpet for him. They did not, because he does not. Most absurd was his self-appointed performance as the so-called leader of the Atiku Haske Organization during the defection spectacle, where he brazenly instructed members to defect to the APC and campaign for President Tinubu in the forthcoming elections. The irony could not be sharper. The actual founder of the organization has since publicly disowned and repudiated him, exposing the emptiness of his bravado and reducing his claimed authority to pure fiction.

DSP Barau Jibril’s actions amount to a political miscalculation with consequences beyond politics. They risk damaging a family’s fabric and sowing distrust that may endure. Political victories achieved at such cost are often short-lived.
DSP must confront reality: the individuals parading alongside him are political lightweights who cannot even deliver their own polling units during the elections.

It is also worth noting that APC’s North-East power structure is firmly established. Kashim Shettima (Vice President), Comrade Mustapha Salihu (National Vice Chairman), Nuhu Ribadu (NSA), and Governors Babagana Zulum, Mai Mala Buni, and Inuwa Yahaya hold significant influence in the region. So why insert oneself into this sensitive family matter? If engagement was necessary, NSA Ribadu—with existing family ties—was better positioned. Aliyu Atiku is married to Ribadu’s daughter, Fatima, and in Nigerian politics, such connections still matter.

DSP should realize some battles aren’t worth fighting -Abba Atiku’s APC defection wasn’t a big win. What’s striking is DSP’s spin on Abba’s reasons for joining APC, supposedly boosting his base in Kano. But here’s the thing: why wasn’t DSP focused on poaching Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from NNPP? That would’ve been a major political score.

“My parting words for DSP Barau Jibril: Today’s triumph can become tomorrow’s regret. Taking another man’s son into your camp raises a question: what goes around comes around? Politicians should know the difference between politics and family honor. DSP should tell his circle to stop celebrating someone else’s pain – receiving someone else’s son doesn’t guarantee election success, and one day, their own might be taken.

Islam emphasizes family ties as a cornerstone of a thriving society. Nurturing these bonds is a form of devotion that cultivates love, unity, and support. Those who sever family ties, regardless of reason, should know their actions have consequences – they’ll reap what they sow .

Dukawa write it from Abuja can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com