As the political landscape heats up in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election, President Bola Tinubu has publicly questioned the integrity and ethics of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. During a campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Tinubu accused Atiku of lacking the necessary moral values to occupy public office, specifically regarding allegations of misusing public funds to establish a private university.
Addressing the crowd at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Tinubu challenged Atiku to clarify the financial sources behind his university while he was serving as vice president. He implied that it was constructed with funds derived from public resources, stating, “Who built the university for him? It’s your money, it’s your effort. A man without moral integrity, latitude, and ethics for the office.”
In response, Atiku dismissed Tinubu’s claims as an attempt to divert attention from his own administration’s perceived failures. He stated that his investment in education began well before his political career, detailing the establishment of foundational projects for his university as early as 1993.
Atiku asserted that Tinubu’s administration has plunged the country into a severe cost-of-living crisis and criticized the current president’s leadership for pushing millions of Nigerians into poverty since taking office.
During the rally, Tinubu also commended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his role in reconciliation efforts within the state’s political factions. He encouraged the youth to actively participate in the upcoming elections by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), emphasizing that the election will determine their future.
Further solidifying support for Tinubu, Governor Fubara pledged to deliver three million votes for the president in Rivers State, declaring a united political front among the state’s leaders.
The tensions between the two candidates reflect a broader struggle as the country approaches a critical electoral period, with each side aiming to consolidate their support and paint the other as unfit for leadership.
