Tinubu scared coalition will send him back to Iragbiji, Atiku fires back at President

By KEMI KASUMU

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a front line leader of the opposition coalition movement towards the coming general elections in Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has dished a heat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he describes as his obvious sleeplessness over the his inevitable ousting the democratic way in two years time.

Atiku asked Tinubu, who is former governor of Lagos State, to fix his troubled government, broken economy and not meddle in the affairs of opposition.

He was speaking in swift reaction to yet another downfall wish of the president for any opposition as part of his though denied presidential effort to weaken credible opposition so he will have no challenger in the 2027 election.

At the same National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, while former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo focused mainly on extolling the virtues of late former President and constructive leader of the party saying one of his most important attributes will be his respect for the rule of law, democracy and the party that made him President, Tinubu was said to have devoted his time in hitting hard on opposition coalition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the only opposition platform still very difficult for him to destroy, allegedly.

But Atiku, in a statement dated July 24, 2025 issued by Paul Ibe, his Media Aide, and copy of which was obtained by The DEFENDER on Friday July 25, fired back at President Tinubu asking him to mind his own business and leave the opposition alone.

He said Tinubu’s incessant attacks in opposition coalition boils out of the fact that he is afraid that ADC will defeat and send him back to Iragbiji come 2027.

“At the 14th meeting of the APC today, President Bola Tinubu took yet another swipe at the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the opposition’s Coalition platform.

“Attacking the opposition has now become his favourite pastime — even while the country burns under his watch. This constant attack on the opposition is “a distraction by a man clearly overwhelmed by the mess in his own house.”

“President Tinubu should first sort out the obvious rift between himself and Vice President Kashim Shettima and the broken Nigerian economy before poking his nose into the affairs of the ADC,” the statement said.

It said, “We wish to state for the records that Tinubu and his political camp have been sponsoring crises within the opposition parties. It beats our imagination as to why the presidency is resorting to wasting scarce public funds to stir up internal conflicts in a bid to weaken alternative political voices.

“We are fully aware that the supposed tensions between supporters of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi within the Coalition were orchestrated by the presidency. Unfortunately for them, their divisive game has failed – the cracks have been sealed, and the Coalition stands stronger than ever.

“It’s alarming that more than halfway into his controversial and widely rejected mandate, Tinubu is still leading an APC government that is directionless, incompetent, and completely disconnected from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

“While Nigerians grapple with worsening insecurity, hunger, and poverty, Tinubu is busy playing petty politics. He has abandoned governance and is fixated on a 2027 re-election campaign despite having nothing to show for his 2023 mandate.

“Rather than wipe out the bandits ravaging Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Niger, and other states, Tinubu is more interested in wiping out opposition voices. His goal is clear: to force Nigeria into a one-party state.

“He is now using state institutions — especially anti-corruption agencies — as tools to harass and blackmail opposition leaders into joining the APC. But let the truth be told: Tinubu fears the Coalition. He knows it is the Coalition that will send him packing — either back to Bourdillon or Iragbiji,” it said.