President Bola Tinubu and former VP Atiku Abubakar
Presidential media aide, Sunday Dare, has taken a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing his recent television appearance as uninspiring and lacking the substance expected of a national leader.
Dare, in a strongly worded reaction, declared “Atiku’s Ambition, Dead Before Arrival,” arguing that the interview failed to present any compelling vision for Nigeria’s future. According to him, what Nigerians witnessed was not leadership but “a disjointed, self-indulgent performance marked by contradictions, bluster, and a startling absence of substance on matters of national importance.”
He noted that at a time when the country is undergoing tough but necessary economic reforms, the former vice president offered no clear alternative or policy direction. Dare added that there was “no framework, no roadmap—just the familiar refrain of opposition for its own sake,” stressing that the only visible agenda appeared to be personal ambition.
The presidential aide further criticised Atiku’s dismissal of ongoing reforms, insisting that “criticism without substance is not leadership—it is evasion,” and argued that Nigerians deserved clarity and depth rather than vague responses. He maintained that the interview only reinforced doubts about Atiku’s readiness to lead.
Dare also claimed the former vice president’s posture during the interview alienated multiple constituencies, including young Nigerians, political allies, and figures within his broader political history. According to him, “it was not a message of unity or coalition-building; it was a monologue of grievance. That is not leadership—it is isolation.”
He emphasised that leadership at the national level requires discipline, clarity, and a unifying vision, qualities he said were missing from the interview. Instead, Dare described what was presented as “fatigue, inconsistency, and a campaign anchored on looking backward rather than leading forward.”
The presidential aide contrasted this with the ongoing reforms under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that while the process remains challenging, the direction is clear and results are gradually emerging. He stressed that Nigerians are now more interested in tangible outcomes rather than recycled campaign promises.
Dare concluded that for many Nigerians, the interview removed any lingering doubts about Atiku’s political relevance, stating that “Atiku Abubakar is not being denied relevance. He is losing it—publicly, steadily, and now unmistakably.”
