Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, May 29, strongly challenged the presidency over its claim that President Bola Tinubu “took the bullet” for Nigeria’s survival.

In an article defending the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said his principal “took the bullets” necessary to save Nigeria from fiscal collapse.

In the opinion piece titled 'Bola Tinubu: the man who took the bullet for Nigeria to survive', Onanuga argued that opposition politicians had intensified misinformation campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections despite what he described as the administration’s achievements over the past three years.

Atiku camp slams Tinubu

However, reacting via X (formerly Twitter), Atiku’s camp fired back at the presidency’s remarks.

“Dear @aonanuga1956, I beg to disagree. President @officialABAT did not take the bullet for "Nigeria to survive", whatever that means."

Ibe described President Tinubu as incompetent and clueless.

He stated:

“It is clear even to the blind that Tinubu actually pulled the trigger that is killing Nigeria and its people. His legendary incompetence and cluelessness of the last three years has enthroned a season of pervasive insecurity, hunger and multidimensional poverty, deepened our faultlines and put hopelessness in overdrive."

The opposition figure concluded in a post shared on X:

“The countdown to the retirement of Tinubu to Iragbiji his hometown or Lagos his adopted home has begun.”

Dear @aonanuga1956,
I beg to disagree. President @officialABAT did not take the bullet for "Nigeria to survive" whatever that means. It is clear even to the blind that Tinubu actually pulled the trigger that is killing Nigeria and its people. His legendary incompetence and… https://t.co/pIMfBZu9q2

— Paul Ibe (@omonlakiki) May 29, 2026

Atiku wins ADC presidential ticket

Recently, Atiku won the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after defeating former minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 elections.

The returning officer, Tunde Ogbeha, declared Atiku the winner after the final collation of the results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Atiku emerged after polling a total of 1,846,370 to defeat Amaechi, who came second with 504,117 votes, and Hayatu-Deen, who secured 177,120 votes.

With Tinubu having emerged as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku is set to face off against the incumbent Nigerian leader in the 2027 presidential election.