Atiku Drops Bombshell: Tinubu's Alleged Age of 90 to Be Proven in Court
Atiku Abubakar, the ADC's 2027 presidential candidate, claims President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old and sick, promising evidence. He justifies his candidacy by highlighting his health, constitutional rights, and extensive political experience, while also blaming government irresponsibility for Nigeria's insecurity and vowing to resolve it within a year.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the upcoming 2027 election, has made significant claims regarding President Bola Tinubu's age and health. In an interview with the BBC, Atiku alleged that President Tinubu is 90 years old and currently ill, asserting that he possesses evidence to substantiate these claims, which he intends to present in court.
Atiku used these allegations to explain his continued qualification for the presidency, stating, "I have a president who is 90 years old now, and who is sick. I am healthy; I am strong. So why would I not make my services available to my fellow countrymen?" He affirmed his decision to contest the presidency as being within his constitutional rights, underscoring his experience, competence, and patriotism as essential qualities needed to serve Nigeria.
Reflecting on his extensive political career, the ADC candidate recounted his repeated attempts to secure gubernatorial office, having contested four times. He revealed that he was consistently disqualified by the military authorities overseeing Nigeria's transition to democracy, attributing these disqualifications to his strong anti-military stance during that era. Atiku stated, "I ran for governor four times, because at that position, the people who were in charge of Nigeria’s transition to democracy were military, and I was so anti-military. Any time I won, they would disqualify me."
He also shared a personal account of an alleged assassination attempt, which he stated ultimately forced him into exile. Atiku emphasized that his persistent pursuit of the presidency is not unusual given his detailed political history and unwavering commitment to the nation.
Addressing one of Nigeria's most pressing challenges, insecurity, Atiku Abubakar attributed the ongoing crisis to what he described as governmental irresponsibility and insufficient attention to the country’s defense and security requirements. He recalled raising concerns about the adequacy of Nigeria's security personnel, particularly the number of police officers relative to the population, during his time in government. He drew a comparison with Egypt, noting that the North African nation maintains a significantly larger police force despite having a smaller population than Nigeria. Atiku expressed strong confidence that with the implementation of adequate measures, the country’s insurgency and broader insecurity issues could be brought under control within a single year.