Performance vs. Politics: Atiku’s Aide Dismisses Claims of Tinubu’s Political Superiority

ABUJA NIGERIA:  Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has issued a sharp rebuttal to claims regarding President Bola Tinubu’s political "invincibility," asserting that Nigerians are judging the current administration by its economic performance rather than its political maneuvering.

The exchange follows comments made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who praised the President’s historical political resilience and strategic foresight ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Master Strategist Narrative

In a statement shared via social media, Festus Keyamo characterized President Tinubu as being "100 steps ahead" of his political rivals. Keyamo highlighted Tinubu's history as a survivor of opposition politics, specifically noting his tenure as the sole opposition governor in the South-West in 2007.

"Every step the opposition takes today... is from the playbook of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu," Keyamo stated. "You cannot beat the master at his own game."

Governance Over "Chess Games

Responding to these assertions, Shaibu argued that past political victories are irrelevant in the face of the country's current socio-economic challenges. He characterized the "myth of invincibility" as a distraction from what he described as a failing administration.

Points from Shaibu’s rebuttal include:

Results vs. Rhetoric: Shaibu emphasized that while Tinubu may have been successful in opposition politics, governance is a duty to deliver tangible results, not a "game of chess."

The Cost of Living Crisis: He pointed to rising hunger, persistent insecurity, and the "unbearable" cost of living as the true metrics by which the public is measuring the presidency.

A Disconnect from Reality: Shaibu argued that political "cleverness" holds no value if it fails to improve the welfare of the average citizen or secure communities.

"Being ‘100 steps ahead’ in scheming means nothing when millions of Nigerians are being dragged backwards by hunger and a collapsing standard of living," Shaibu remarked.

The war of words underscores a deepening divide between the presidency’s focus on long-term political strategy and the opposition’s critique of the immediate economic hardships facing the Nigerian populace. Shaibu concluded that no amount of "propaganda" or "myth-making" could mask the current administration's struggles to manage the nation's ongoing crises.