Political Earthquake: Fani-Kayode declares Atiku and Obi ‘Finished,’ crowns Tinubu the unstoppable ‘Special One’

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has launched a blistering critique of opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, accusing them of opportunism, disloyalty, and an insatiable obsession with power, while praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “special one” destined to prevail in Nigeria’s political battles.

In a lengthy media statement on Sunday titled “The Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage Between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi”, Fani-Kayode described Tinubu as “akanda eniyan” — a Yoruba phrase meaning “the special one” — endowed with extraordinary resilience and mystical grace. He argued that Tinubu’s patience, forgiveness, and loyalty to his political platforms set him apart from rivals. “Simply put, he cannot be stopped and this is a lesson his enemies have yet to learn,” he wrote.

The former minister, who once opposed Tinubu before switching allegiance in 2020, claimed that those plotting against the president ahead of the 2027 elections are engaged in “an exercise in futility.” He cited divisions within opposition coalitions, including acrimonious disputes between Atiku’s supporters (“Atikulators”), Obi’s followers (“Obidients”), and Kwankwaso’s loyalists, as evidence of their fragility.

Fani-Kayode accused Atiku and Obi of repeatedly abandoning parties for personal ambition, noting that between them they have switched platforms 11 times since 1999. “Political parties are not established to be used like toilet paper and flushed down the lavatory,” he said, adding that their constant defections reflect a lack of loyalty and ideological conviction.

He likened both men to Tolkien’s character Gollum, consumed by a destructive obsession with power. “You crawl and hiss like snakes in a pit as you slither from one political party to the other looking for the power that neither of you shall ever achieve,” he wrote, warning that their ambitions have negatively affected their mental health and credibility.

Turning to Atiku, Fani-Kayode lamented that the former vice president, once respected, has become “a shadow of his former self.” He argued that Atiku’s repeated attempts at the presidency are driven by vanity and hubris, comparing him to Icarus who flew too close to the sun.

On Obi, he accused the former Anambra governor of inconsistency and opportunism, citing his moves from APGA to PDP, LP, ADC, and now NDC. He warned that Obi’s insistence on securing presidential tickets without contesting primaries undermines democratic norms. He quoted former allies such as Datti Baba-Ahmed, Kenneth Okonkwo, and Babachir Lawal, who have publicly criticized Obi’s temperament, loyalty, and leadership style.

Fani-Kayode also dismissed the possibility of a viable Obi–Kwankwaso ticket in 2027, arguing that Kwankwaso’s principles and northern political base would not allow him to play second fiddle. He suggested that Obi’s past actions against northerners in Anambra and his business ties to alcohol production make him incompatible with Kwankwaso’s values.

The statement further praised Tinubu’s political journey, contrasting it with Atiku and Obi’s record. Fani-Kayode emphasized that Tinubu founded and nurtured his parties — AD, AC, ACN, and later APC — demonstrating loyalty and patience until his eventual presidential victory in 2023. “He built his own, funded it, developed it, expanded it, and when the time was right, his party rewarded him,” he wrote.

He concluded by urging Atiku and Obi to reconcile themselves to life outside power, declaring: “You will never smell it again. Settle down and accept that your political careers are over.”

The fiery statement underscores deepening fractures within Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 elections; while reinforcing Tinubu’s image among loyalists as a leader whose patience and strategic foresight continue to secure his dominance.