Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, challenged a recent claim by Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo that President Bola Tinubu enjoys an unrivaled political advantage ahead of the 2027 elections. Keyamo posted on his verified X account on Sunday, writing, "The very unique thing about President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that he fought from the deep end of opposition to become President of Nigeria." Shaibu responded from his X handle @phrankangel, asserting, "Tinubu may have excelled in opposition politics, but governance is about results, not rhetoric." He added, "The myth of invincibility is often the last refuge of a failing narrative." In a longer statement Shaibu argued that Nigerians are now concerned with rising hunger, persistent insecurity and an unaffordable cost of living, not past political battles. He warned that being "100 steps ahead" must translate into tangible improvements, calling the current administration "an abysmal FAILURE" and saying no amount of propaganda can hide the harsh reality faced by citizens.
Shaibu's blunt dismissal of Tinubu's "myth of invincibility" signals a rare public fracture within the opposition camp, directly targeting the president's political brand just months before the 2027 race.
The exchange unfolds against a backdrop of soaring food prices, escalating insecurity and a cost‑of‑living squeeze that dominate everyday conversations, while Tinubu's supporters continue to tout his opposition pedigree as a political asset. By shifting the debate from past victories to present performance, Shaibu forces a reckoning with the administration's record on governance.
For ordinary Nigerians, the debate translates into a tangible concern: if the president's perceived political edge does not deliver affordable meals, safer neighborhoods or stable prices, voter confidence may erode, especially among those most affected by hunger and insecurity.
This clash mirrors a broader pattern where political narratives in Nigeria often eclipse policy outcomes, suggesting that future electoral contests may hinge less on historic rivalries and more on demonstrable service delivery.
