Political Firestorm: Omokri Dares Atiku on Tinubu's Age with Vintage Photo

Reno Omokri, Ambassador-designate of Nigeria to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, has publicly challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s assertion that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old. Omokri’s reaction stemmed from an interview Atiku granted to the BBC, where the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 election claimed Tinubu’s age was 90 and stated he possessed evidence to prove this in court. Atiku emphasized his own health and strength, questioning why he shouldn’t offer his services to the nation given the President’s alleged age and sickness.

To counter Atiku’s claim, Omokri presented a photograph purportedly taken with President Tinubu and journalist Dele Momodu in London in 1996. In a statement released on Friday, Omokri also challenged Momodu to authenticate the photograph, which he claimed depicted Momodu with Tinubu three decades prior. Omokri argued that if Tinubu were indeed 90 years old in 2026 (the year following the 2027 election, implying the context of Atiku's claim), he would have been 60 years old when the photograph was allegedly taken. Omokri questioned, “Does His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, look like a sixty-year-old in this photo?”

Omokri further urged Dele Momodu to speak out on the photograph's authenticity, recalling Momodu’s previous comments about Tinubu's support for him during his exile under the late military dictator Sani Abacha. While acknowledging Momodu’s freedom to support any candidate, Omokri questioned his silence regarding allegations concerning the President’s age and health. He advocated for politicians to focus their campaigns on critical issues affecting Nigerians, rather than resorting to what he termed “age-shaming” political opponents, suggesting a higher bar for the upcoming election by brainstorming ideas to resolve national challenges.

According to his publicly stated date of birth, President Tinubu was born on March 29, 1952, which would make him 74 years old. Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar, having emerged as the ADC presidential candidate for 2027, asserted his physical fitness and constitutional right to contest the presidency. He cited his strength, health, and agility as qualifications. Atiku also highlighted his experience and competence, criticizing the Federal Government for insecurity, attributing it to inadequate manpower and equipment within the country’s security architecture. He promised that, if elected in 2027, his administration would address insurgency and insecurity within its first year in office.