Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has strongly challenged the presidency's claim that President Bola Tinubu “took the bullet” for Nigeria's survival. The rebuttal came on Friday, May 29, following an opinion piece by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
Presidency's Defense of Economic Reforms
In the article titled 'Bola Tinubu: the man who took the bullet for Nigeria to survive,' Onanuga argued that opposition politicians had intensified misinformation campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections despite what he described as the administration’s achievements over the past three years. He said his principal “took the bullets” necessary to save Nigeria from fiscal collapse.
Atiku Camp Fires Back
Reacting via X (formerly Twitter), Ibe disagreed with the presidency's remarks. He stated: “Dear @aonanuga1956, I beg to disagree. President @officialABAT did not take the bullet for 'Nigeria to survive', whatever that means.” Ibe described President Tinubu as incompetent and clueless, adding: “It is clear even to the blind that Tinubu actually pulled the trigger that is killing Nigeria and its people. His legendary incompetence and cluelessness of the last three years has enthroned a season of pervasive insecurity, hunger and multidimensional poverty, deepened our faultlines and put hopelessness in overdrive.”
Ibe concluded his post by saying: “The countdown to the retirement of Tinubu to Iragbiji his hometown or Lagos his adopted home has begun.”
Atiku Secures ADC Presidential Ticket
Recently, Atiku won the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after defeating former minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 elections. The returning officer, Tunde Ogbeha, declared Atiku the winner after collating results from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Atiku polled 1,846,370 votes, defeating Amaechi who secured 504,117 votes and Hayatu-Deen who got 177,120 votes.
With Tinubu having emerged as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku is set to face off against the incumbent Nigerian leader in the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku Not Retired
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that ahead of the 2027 elections, Atiku accused “anti-democratic elements” of attempting to create confusion and dampen the momentum of the ADC. According to a statement by Atiku's media office, the former Vice President said insinuations that he has quit active politics are fake news.
