President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a sharp swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other leaders of the emerging opposition coalition, questioning their credentials and past records in public office. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of Renewed Hope Ambassadors at the State House in Abuja, the President pointed out that none of the coalition figures is without a controversial history. He specifically singled out Atiku, describing him as the head of the group and recalling his role as chairman of the privatization council of Nigeria during his time in government.

According to President Tinubu, Atiku and his associates oversaw the privatization of several key national assets, yet many of those entities have failed to thrive under private ownership. He cited the steel industry in Delta State as an example, asking rhetorically whether it is functioning effectively today.

The President extended the same scrutiny to Ajaokuta Steel Company, another major project that was privatized but has reportedly remained largely inoperative. These remarks were intended to cast doubt on the opposition leaders’ ability to manage national affairs, suggesting their past decisions contributed to the underperformance of critical infrastructure.

In a more pointed jab, President Tinubu accused Atiku of attempting to privatize another man’s political party. He noted that the owner of the party firmly rejected the move, saying no to what he portrayed as an overreach. This comment appears to reference the ongoing leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress, which some reports link to efforts by Atiku and his allies to take control of the platform ahead of future elections. The President used the analogy to highlight what he sees as a pattern of interference and questionable maneuvers in both economic and political spheres.

The remarks come at a time when opposition figures are intensifying efforts to build a formidable coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections. President Tinubu’s comments serve as a strong rebuttal, framing the coalition leaders as individuals whose records deserve close examination rather than admiration.