Atiku Advises Tinubu: Tackle Nigeria's Challenges, Not 2027 Rivals

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress, has openly challenged President Bola Tinubu. Atiku urged the President to abandon political posturing and instead concentrate on alleviating Nigeria's escalating economic hardships and security issues.

His comments follow President Tinubu's recent assertion that he is prepared to "wrestle his opponents to the finish." Atiku interpreted this statement as an indication of desperation from a leader struggling with the shortcomings of his government. In a press statement released on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President characterized Tinubu as a "drowning man" attempting to divert the public's attention from what he termed a dismal performance in office. "Mr President, you are a drowning man. Wrestle with your failures, not your opponents," Atiku declared emphatically.

Atiku expressed concern that these remarks were made during a response to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, who had called for fair, transparent, and peaceful elections. He argued that such an occasion demanded reassurance and statesmanship, not aggressive language. According to Atiku, Tinubu's response showcased the detachment that has become characteristic of his administration and a perceived lack of humility expected from a president addressing one of the nation's most revered religious bodies.

Rather than issuing threats to political adversaries, Atiku suggested the President should direct his efforts towards combating inflation, widespread food insecurity, unemployment, the general state of insecurity, and the country's economic downturn. "The president should wrestle with the millions of Nigerians who now skip meals because food has become a luxury. He should wrestle with the insecurity that has turned farming communities into graveyards and highways into hunting grounds for criminals. He should wrestle with the unemployment that has robbed an entire generation of hope. He should wrestle with an economy suffocating under policy inconsistency, reckless borrowing and dwindling investor confidence," he stated.

The former Vice President posited that governments with poor track records often resort to political theatrics to distract from public discontent. "These are the words of a drowning man. A government that has little to celebrate inevitably seeks refuge in chest-thumping. But Nigerians are no longer interested in political performances. They are interested in performance in government. Empty slogans cannot fill empty stomachs. Boastful declarations cannot lower food prices. Threats against political opponents cannot restore the value of the naira," Atiku affirmed.

He further argued that the President's most significant political challenge is not the opposition, but the performance of his own administration. "His greatest opponent is his own record. Every unpaid worker, every struggling business, every unemployed graduate, every victim of insecurity and every hungry family is a living testimony to the consequences of his administration’s choices. That is the contest he has consistently failed to win," Atiku added. He also reminded the President that democratic elections are determined by the electorate, not by political bravado. "Democracy is a marketplace of ideas and accountability. Governments earn another term through competence, compassion and measurable results—not through combative rhetoric. In 2027, Nigerians will not be stepping into a wrestling arena. They will be stepping into polling units to deliver a constitutional verdict," he concluded. He advised Tinubu to dedicate the remainder of his term to confronting the nation's critical challenges, rather than engaging in what he termed unnecessary political conflicts. "The Nigerian people are not looking for a wrestler. They are looking for a leader. History will not remember who shouted the loudest. It will remember who governed the best."

This exchange follows President Tinubu’s initial comments during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Abuja, where he reportedly declared his intention to "wrestle" his political rivals "to the finishing point" in the 2027 general election. The bishops had specifically urged political leaders to ensure credible, transparent, and peaceful elections. Atiku’s critique is the latest in a series of disagreements between the opposition and the Presidency concerning the state of the economy, the rising cost of living, insecurity, and preparations for the upcoming general election. Atiku, who is expected to be a prominent figure in the opposition coalition, has consistently accused the Tinubu administration of economic mismanagement, while the Presidency has maintained that its reforms are necessary and will yield long-term benefits.