Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Friday claimed that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old, insisting that he has evidence to substantiate the allegation and would present it in court, while dismissing concerns over his own age and fitness to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku made the claim during an interview with BBC Hausa, while responding to a question on concerns that he would be almost 80 in 2027.
But in reaction, Ambassador-designate of Nigeria to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, Reno Omokri, hit back at Atiku, saying the President is nowhere close to 90 years.
Omokri, in a statement posted on his social media platform Friday, cited a photograph of Tinubu and Dele Momodu taken in London in 1996, arguing that the image raised questions about Atiku’s assertion on the President’s age.
This comes as the Presidency Friday opened another front against the ADC presidential candidate over his promise to “open the borders” if elected in 2027.
The Presidency insisted that Nigeria’s land borders were already open and that Nigerians deserved facts rather than campaign slogans.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the Federal Government reopened most of Nigeria’s land borders in March 2024 and had not reversed the decision.
Continuing, the former vice president argued that age should not be used to determine a candidate’s suitability for the presidency, insisting that he remained physically strong, healthy and intellectually alert.
The former Vice President said, “You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?”
He alleged: “We have a President who is 90 years old and who is sick, and I am healthy and strong. So, why would I not make myself available to serve my fellow countrymen?”
When told that the President was not yet 90, Atiku replied: “I have evidence, and I will present it in court.”
“I have the experience, the competence and the patriotism. So, why would I not make all these available for the service of my country,” he added.Atiku, however, said his age would not prevent him from effectively governing the country, stressing that what Nigerians should be concerned about was the ability of a president to provide competent leadership and address the country’s economic and security challenges.
He also renewed his criticism of the Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of failing to provide Nigerians with affordable transportation and cheaper fuel.
According to him, the government’s recent announcement of 120,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres was inadequate, representing less than one per cent of the estimated number of vehicles requiring conversion.
He described the government’s approach to transportation policy as confused and “clay-footed”, arguing that Nigerians needed immediate relief from high transportation and energy costs rather than promises whose benefits would take years to materialise.
Atiku further vowed that, if elected president, his administration would tackle insecurity and restore confidence in the country, while accusing the Tinubu administration of being in “panic mode”.
He also repudiated claims that he had become an obstacle to the opposition coalition, saying he was instrumental in bringing the group together.
“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 said.
According to him, most of the politicians who started the coalition remained together, despite disagreements among some of the major opposition figures.
He identified the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as the two major opposition figures who left the group.
“It was just Kwankwaso… he was with us at first, then he left,” Atiku said. Asked about Obi, he added, “Yes, and also Peter Obi. It’s just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work.”
Atiku, however, said there was still a possibility of the opposition politicians working together before the 2027 election, adding, “Nothing is impossible, by God’s grace. One day you’ll see… we have agreed to work together to save this country and its poor citizens, Insha Allah,” he said.
The former vice president also criticised the federal government’s handling of the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying savings from the policy had not been adequately accounted for.
“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku asked.
He said the funds were supposed to help reduce poverty, improve education, address insecurity and create opportunities for young Nigerians.
“Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” he said.
Atiku also promised to restore petrol subsidy if elected president, while demanding that anyone who had stolen the money would refund it.
“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he said.
He further said the subsidy could have been removed without causing the level of hardship being experienced by Nigerians if the savings had been properly used.
“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went. If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” Atiku said.
The former vice president also defended his decision not to sign a peace accord involving opposition politicians, saying he questioned why the incumbent government was not included.
He said, “Why is it always only us in the opposition that you bring to sign, but you never bring the incumbent government to sign as well?”
Atiku added that he saw little value in the exercise if the ruling party was excluded.
“So, if you don’t bring the incumbent government to come and sign, I see no point in going to sign it,” he said.
While justifying his choice to contest the 2027 elections, the former vice president said there was nothing unusual about his continued participation in presidential contests, noting that his political career had been marked by repeated challenges.
“So because I’m contesting the presidency two or three times, I mean, that’s not anything unusual in my life, in my political life. Why should you question me on my right? It is my constitutional right. I am strong. I am healthy. I am agile. Why do you bother about my constitutional rights?”
Explaining why he believes he remains suitable to lead the country, Atiku said his experience, competence and patriotism were reasons he should be allowed to offer himself for national service.
“I have the experience. I have the competence. I have the patriotism. So why would I not make all this available to the service of my country?” he asked.
Atiku also recounted his earlier political struggles, saying he had contested for governor four times and was repeatedly disqualified by military authorities whenever he won.
Omokri: Tinubu Is Nowhere Close To 90
Ambassador-designate of Nigeria to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, Reno Omokri, hit back at Atiku over his claim that Tinubu was 90 years old and suffers from ill health.
Omokri, in a post on his social media platform on Friday, cited a photograph of Tinubu and Dele Momodu taken in London in 1996, arguing that the image raised questions about Atiku’s assertion on the President’s age.
He said that if Tinubu was indeed 90 years old, as alleged by Atiku, the President would have been 60 when the photograph was taken 30 years ago.
“Look at the photo yourself. I have not altered it in any way. Dele Momodu is alive to testify to the authenticity of this photograph and the date and place where it was taken,” Omokri said.
He challenged Nigerians to examine the photograph and determine whether Tinubu appeared to be 60 at the time.
“If Asiwaju is indeed ninety years of age, then he would have been sixty when this photo was taken exactly thirty years ago. I urge objective Nigerians and citizens of the world to again look at this photo. Does the gentleman on the right look sixty? Does he even look fifty?” he asked.
The ambassador-designate also said Momodu, as a political supporter, remained free to support whichever candidate he chose in the 2027 election, but questioned whether he should remain silent while allegations were made about the age and health of someone he had previously described as a friend and benefactor.
He urged politicians and their supporters to elevate the quality of political debate ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that the campaign should focus on issues directly affecting Nigerians.
“Perhaps we can raise the bar for this election by raising issues germane to the Nigerian people and brainstorming ideas to resolve the challenges plaguing our polity,” he said.
Chuks Okocha and Sunday Ehigiator
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