The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, has rebuked claims by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains politically ahead of opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo had, in a post on his verified X handle on Sunday, highlighted Tinubu’s political pedigree and long-standing role in Nigeria’s opposition politics, stating: “The very unique thing about President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that he fought from the deep end of opposition to become President of Nigeria.”
Responding to Keyamo via his X handle, @phrankangel, Shaibu dismissed the assertion, insisting that past political victories cannot substitute for present-day governance.
He said: “Tinubu may have excelled in opposition politics, but governance is about results, not rhetoric.” According to him, “the myth of invincibility is often the last refuge of a failing narrative.”
Shaibu’s full response read: “The myth of invincibility is often the last refuge of a failing narrative. Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have had his moments in opposition politics, but governance is not a game of chess—it is a duty to deliver results. Today, Nigerians are not asking who once outfoxed whom in 2007; they are asking why hunger is rising, why insecurity persists, and why the cost of living has become unbearable.
“Being ‘100 steps ahead’ should reflect in better lives for citizens, not in clever political storytelling. If anything, the current realities suggest a government struggling to keep pace with the very crises confronting it.
“History may remember political battles, but the present will judge leadership by performance, and on that scale, no amount of myth-making can mask the truth. He is an abysmal FAILURE!”
In a follow-up tweet, Shaibu intensified his criticism, writing: “Being ‘100 steps ahead’ scheming means nothing when millions of Nigerians are being dragged backwards by hunger, insecurity, and a collapsing standard of living. What is the value of strategy if it cannot put food on the table, secure lives, or restore dignity to the average citizen? Governance is not a masterclass in manipulation—it is a test of compassion, competence, and courage.
“Today, Nigerians are not impressed by recycled opposition tactics dressed up as brilliance; they are confronted daily by empty pockets, unsafe communities, and a government that appears disconnected from their pain. No amount of propaganda can mask a reality that is this loud.”