Former VP says president’s combative rhetoric reveals a leader drowning in his own administration’s failures
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at President Bola Tinubu’s recent “wrestle opponents to the finish” declaration, urging the president to abandon political theatrics and confront Nigeria’s mounting economic and security crises instead.
In a stinging statement issued Wednesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the 2023 presidential candidate described Tinubu as “a drowning man” desperately attempting to distract Nigerians from what he called an “abysmal record in office.”
“Mr President, you are a drowning man. Wrestle with your failures, not your opponents,” Atiku declared.
President’s Remarks Draw Sharp Criticism
The exchange was triggered by Tinubu’s comments during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Abuja, where he reportedly vowed to “wrestle” his political opponents “to the finishing point” in the 2027 general election. The bishops had used the occasion to urge political leaders and institutions to guarantee credible, transparent, and peaceful elections.
Atiku expressed concern that the occasion demanded statesmanship rather than combative rhetoric, arguing that Tinubu’s response reflected “the aloofness that has come to define his administration” and demonstrated a “lack of humility expected of a president addressing one of the country’s most respected religious institutions.”
A Call to Confront Real Challenges
Rather than threatening political opponents, Atiku insisted the president should channel his energy toward tackling:
· Soaring inflation and food insecurity
· Unemployment robbing an entire generation of hope
· Insecurity turning farming communities into graveyards
· An economy “suffocating under policy inconsistency, reckless borrowing and dwindling investor confidence”
“The president should wrestle with the millions of Nigerians who now skip meals because food has become a luxury,” Atiku said. “He should wrestle with the insecurity that has turned farming communities into graveyards and highways into hunting grounds for criminals.”
‘Empty Slogans Cannot Fill Empty Stomachs’
The former vice president argued that governments with poor records often resort to political theatrics to divert attention from public dissatisfaction.
“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,” Atiku stated.
“Empty slogans cannot fill empty stomachs. Boastful declarations cannot lower food prices. Threats against political opponents cannot restore the value of the naira.”
‘His Greatest Opponent Is His Own Record’
Atiku contended that Tinubu’s biggest political challenge is not the opposition but the performance of his own administration.
“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. That is the contest he has consistently failed to win,” he added.
Democracy Decided at Polling Units, Not Wrestling Arenas
The former vice president reminded Tinubu that democratic elections are decided by voters, not political bravado.
“Democracy is a marketplace of ideas and accountability. Governments earn another term through competence, compassion and measurable results—not through combative rhetoric. 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.
A Final Appeal for Leadership
Atiku urged Tinubu to spend the remainder of his tenure confronting the country’s pressing challenges rather than engaging in what he described as unnecessary political battles.
“The Nigerian people are not looking for a wrestler. They are looking for a leader. History will not remember who shouted the loudest. It will remember who governed the best,” he concluded.
Background
The exchange marks the latest chapter in the ongoing war of words between the opposition and the Presidency over Nigeria’s economic downturn, rising cost of living, security challenges, and preparations for the 2027 general election.
Atiku, who is expected to play a leading role in the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress, has repeatedly accused the Tinubu administration of economic mismanagement. The presidency has consistently defended its reforms as necessary measures requiring time to deliver lasting benefits.
