The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, described President Tinubu as “a drowning man” attempting to deflect attention from his administration’s performance with political rhetoric.
Atiku stated this in reaction to comments by the president that the opposition would have to “fight to the finishing point” politically if they plan to unseat him in the 2027 elections.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President said the President’s remarks reflected an attempt to divert attention from what he described as the administration’s failures.
He also faulted the President for making the comments in response to the CBCN’s appeal for credible, transparent and peaceful elections, saying the response demonstrated a lack of humility and decorum.
“Mr President, you are a drowning man. Wrestle with your failures, not your opponents,” Atiku said.
He argued that a president facing what he described as the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in recent memory should focus on tackling inflation, hunger, insecurity, naira instability, and declining public confidence rather than confronting political opponents.
According to Atiku, governments that fail to deliver often resort to political theatre to distract citizens from prevailing hardship.
“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 government performance. Empty slogans cannot fill empty stomachs. Boastful declarations cannot lower food prices. Threats against political opponents cannot restore the value of the naira,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate maintained that President Tinubu’s greatest challenge was not the opposition but his administration’s record.
“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.
“Democracy is a marketplace of ideas and accountability. In 2027, Nigerians will not be stepping into a wrestling arena. They will be stepping into polling units to deliver a constitutional verdict,” he added.
Atiku urged the president to devote the remainder of his tenure to addressing the country’s economic and security challenges instead of, in his view, creating unnecessary political confrontations.
(Ripples)