President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken fresh political swipes at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified its mobilization efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu made the remarks during an APC presidential campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he called on Nigerians to question how Atiku acquired the resources to establish a university while serving as Vice President.
The President accused Atiku of using public resources to advance private interests, challenging him to explain the source of the funds used to establish the institution.
“Ask him how he built the university, while he was in office as vice president in charge of our economy. Who built the university for you? It’s your money. It’s your effort,” Tinubu said.
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He further questioned Atiku’s moral integrity and suitability for public office, describing him as lacking the ethical standards expected of a leader.
Tinubu also criticized opposition politicians who have blamed his administration for the country’s economic challenges, particularly rising living costs and widespread hardship.
According to the President, those currently accusing his government of creating hunger were partly responsible for the problems they now condemn.
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The rally comes amid renewed political exchanges between the ruling APC and opposition figures as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tinubu Thanks Fubara, Seeks Second Term
Beyond his criticism of opposition politicians, Tinubu expressed appreciation to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his role in maintaining peace following the prolonged political crisis that threatened the stability of the state government.
The President commended Fubara for his maturity and willingness to respect the intervention efforts aimed at resolving the political disagreement.
“I want to thank you specifically, for your maturity, understanding, respect for the wisdom of elders. When we intervened, you respected our position. You maintained peace. You are a committed democrat. Fubara, you will not regret what you have done,” Tinubu said.
He also recalled the support Rivers State gave him during the 2023 presidential election, saying the state stood by him when his political future appeared uncertain.
Tinubu subsequently appealed to Rivers residents to renew their support for his administration and the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in the 2027 presidential election.
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Shettima Attacks Peter Obi
Vice President Kashim Shettima also used the rally to criticize opposition politicians, particularly Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election.
Shettima accused opposition figures of concentrating on attacking Tinubu rather than recognizing what he described as the achievements of the current administration.
Taking a direct swipe at Obi, the Vice President accused him of attempting to gain political relevance through philosophical arguments.
“Political charlatans on the other side of the divide are making efforts to demonize President Tinubu instead of celebrating him,” Shettima said.
He further described Obi as someone who had been “diligently philosophizing himself into political relevance.”
Shettima urged Rivers residents to renew their support for the President, insisting that the Tinubu administration deserved another mandate.
Fubara Promises Tinubu Three Million Votes
In one of the major highlights of the rally, Governor Siminalayi Fubara promised that Rivers State would deliver three million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The governor attributed his commitment to the President’s intervention during the political crisis in Rivers State, which he said helped restore stability and preserve his administration.
Fubara praised Tinubu for what he described as a fatherly and statesmanlike approach to resolving the crisis.
He said the President had made personal sacrifices to ensure peace and harmony in the state.
“Rivers will give you three million votes. We will stand by you. We will work for you. We will deliver for you,” Fubara assured the President.
APC Sets 2.3 Million Vote Target in Rivers
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, declared that the party was targeting at least 2.3 million votes for Tinubu in Rivers State.
Yari said the target was achievable through effective mobilization and the political support of influential leaders in the state, particularly FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
He noted that Rivers State had approximately 3.3 million registered voters, with about 2.8 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected.
According to him, the APC was targeting nothing less than 80 per cent of the votes in the state.
Yari also criticized opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, questioning their records in public office.
Wike Highlights 47 Federal Appointments, Projects
Earlier at the rally, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who serves as Tinubu’s campaign coordinator in Rivers State, declared that the people of Rivers had resolved to support the President’s re-election bid.
Wike described Tinubu as a leader who had demonstrated considerable commitment to Rivers State since assuming office.
He claimed that Rivers indigenes had received no fewer than 47 political appointments under the Tinubu administration.
“Since the inception of democracy in 1999, Rivers people have never had it this way. We have no less than 47 political appointments from Mr President. So, who is our brother? Our brother is Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he has identified with the people of Rivers State,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister also highlighted federal infrastructure projects in the state, including the Bonny-Bodo Road and other road developments.
He further pointed to appointments across federal institutions, including the FCT, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and South-South Development Commission, as evidence of the administration’s recognition of Rivers State.
Akpabio, Okowa Express Confidence in Tinubu’s Re-election
Other prominent political figures at the rally also expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances of securing another presidential mandate.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio predicted massive support for the President in Rivers State, recalling that Rivers was the only state in the South-South geopolitical zone where Tinubu won convincingly in the 2023 presidential election.
APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, described the Tinubu-Shettima ticket as the best option for Nigeria at the moment.
Former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who was Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, also declared his support for Tinubu.
Okowa said his assessment of the current administration had convinced him that Nigeria was moving in the right direction.
“I have seen the light. Today, we are on the right track because the President is laying a solid foundation,” he said.
APC Claims 70,000 Attendance at Rally
The Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, who delivered the vote of thanks, put the attendance at the rally at approximately 70,000 people.
He also urged Rivers residents to sustain their support for Tinubu, citing federal infrastructure projects, internal road developments and political appointments given to indigenes of the state.
The rally highlighted the APC’s growing political mobilization in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Tinubu and his supporters banking on the political influence of Wike, Fubara and other influential stakeholders to secure a strong electoral showing.
