Phrank Shaibu, the senior special assistant on public communication to former vice president Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing response to Senator Adams Oshiomhole's recent comments questioning Atiku's capacity to govern Nigeria.
Oshiomhole's Controversial Statement
The political confrontation began on Monday when Senator Oshiomhole, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), addressed journalists and claimed that Atiku lacked the ability to lead Nigeria because he couldn't stabilize his own political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Oshiomhole argued that anyone unable to manage their political platform effectively couldn't possibly claim the capability to fix Nigeria's complex challenges.
Shaibu's Fiery Response
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, Shaibu described Oshiomhole's comments as "a tired distraction from the monumental failures of the APC" under his influence.
"The same party he helped foist on Nigeria, and the same party that has plunged the country into its worst economic state in decades," Shaibu declared, highlighting what he characterized as the APC's poor performance in governance.
Shaibu went further to question Oshiomhole's own credibility on leadership matters, stating that the former labor leader's political legacy reflects "propaganda and a bruising culture of impunity."
Contrasting Leadership Styles
The aide drew sharp contrasts between Atiku's governance approach and what he described as Oshiomhole's political methods. "Atiku Abubakar represents vision, experience, and capacity. Oshiomhole represents noise, propaganda, and the bruising legacy of a party that betrayed the hopes of millions," Shaibu asserted.
He defended Atiku's democratic credentials, noting that leadership in a democratic party is not dictatorship, unlike what he suggested characterized the APC's approach under Oshiomhole's influence.
Shaibu emphasized Atiku's economic track record, pointing out that as chairman of the National Economic Council, the former vice president "rebuilt the economy and championed reforms that attracted investment and strengthened the private sector."
Political Context and Developments
The exchange occurs against the backdrop of significant political movements, with Atiku having recently registered with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday, November 24, after resigning from the PDP in July.
Shaibu concluded his statement by challenging the APC's moral authority, asking: "If the APC could not fix Nigeria after eight wasted years and nearly three years of Tinubu, what moral authority does Oshiomhole have to comment on leadership?"
The heated exchange underscores the intensifying political tensions as Nigeria moves closer to the next electoral cycle, with key political figures already positioning themselves and trading verbal blows over governance credentials and leadership capabilities.
