Key Takeaways
- Atiku Abubakar says he is fit and healthy, dismissing age concerns for the 2027 election.
- Atiku jabs President Bola Tinubu's age, claiming he is '90 years old,' before correcting himself.
- Reno Omokri counters with a 1996 photo of Tinubu and Dele Momodu to question the age claim.
- Atiku denies blocking an opposition coalition, insisting he initiated it.
Nigeria's political arena is already buzzing with 2027 election manoeuvres, as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, now the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, brushed aside concerns about his age and aimed a sharp barb at President Bola Tinubu. In an interview with BBC Hausa, Atiku declared he is fit and healthy, while making a puzzling comment about Tinubu's age.
Atiku, who has contested the presidency multiple times on different party platforms, is no stranger to scrutiny over his age. His latest remarks come amid ongoing national debates about the vitality of Nigeria's leadership and the need for generational change.
Age, Fitness, and the Tinubu Jab
During the interview, the BBC Hausa presenter noted that Atiku would be "almost or nearly 80 years old" by the time Nigerians vote in 2027. Atiku responded, "You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?" When the interviewer corrected him, Atiku quickly shifted, asking, "Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?"
Omokri's Photo Counter
Reno Omokri, Nigeria's Ambassador-designate to Mexico and several other Latin American countries, responded publicly. He shared a photograph of Tinubu and journalist Dele Momodu taken in London in 1996. Omokri argued that if Tinubu were truly 90, then Momodu would be in his 80s, which he clearly is not. "If Asiwaju is indeed 90 years old, as recently alleged, then Dele Momodu must be in his eighties," Omokri wrote. He further questioned the photo's implication, writing, "Does His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu look like a 60-year-old in this photo?" Omokri added that Tinubu would have been 60 when the photo was taken 30 years ago, and reminded Momodu that Tinubu treated him well during his exile from the Abacha regime.
Atiku on the Opposition Coalition
Beyond the age tussle, Atiku also addressed claims that he is an obstacle to a united opposition. He flatly dismissed the assertion, saying, "That is a baseless accusation levelled against me. I was actually the one who initiated the coalition. Nobody else. I, Atiku Abubakar, started it." He acknowledged that Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso have left the coalition, but insisted the remaining members are working together. "It was just Kwankwaso... he was with us at first, then he left. Yes, and also Peter Obi. It's just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work," he added.
A Divided Opposition?
Atiku expressed optimism that all parties would still collaborate for Nigeria's benefit, despite the high-profile exits. Political analysts note that the opposition's effectiveness hinges on bridging personal and policy differences before the 2027 race.
Why This Matters
The age debate is more than a personal feud; it reflects deeper concerns about leadership stamina and generational change in Nigerian politics. Meanwhile, Atiku's insistence that he is the coalition's founder positions him as a central figure in any future opposition alliance.