Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a fresh attack on President Bola Tinubu, describing him as “a drowning man” following the president’s recent declaration that he would “wrestle” his political opponents ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the president’s remarks reflected an administration struggling to defend what he described as a poor record in office.
“Mr President, you are a drowning man. Wrestle with your failures, not your opponents,” Atiku said.
The former vice president criticised Tinubu for making the comment in response to an appeal by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), which had called for peaceful, credible and transparent elections.
According to Atiku, the president should be more concerned with addressing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges than engaging in political rhetoric.
He argued that Nigerians are battling rising inflation, hunger, insecurity, unemployment and the falling value of the naira, saying these issues—not political opponents—should be the government’s priority.
“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,” he said.
Atiku further stated that no amount of political grandstanding could solve the country’s problems.
“Empty slogans cannot fill empty stomachs. Boastful declarations cannot lower food prices. Threats against political opponents cannot restore the value of the naira,” he added.
The ADC presidential candidate also maintained that the biggest challenge facing President Tinubu 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,” Atiku stated.
He concluded by saying that Nigerians would ultimately decide the country’s future through the ballot box in 2027.
“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 said.
Atiku urged the president to focus on tackling the country’s pressing challenges instead of engaging in what he described as unnecessary political battles.
