Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu’s government, calling its new “Nigeria First” slogan a shallow PR stunt rather than a genuine effort to fix the country.

In a statement through his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the sincerity of the campaign and urged Tinubu to lead by example. He challenged the President to ditch his luxury foreign-made Escalade for a locally built vehicle from companies like Innoson or Nord. According to Atiku, such a move would speak louder than any policy document.

He also criticized Tinubu’s ministers, mocking them as “Rolls Royce lovers” and calling on them to embrace Nigerian-made cars in solidarity with citizens facing economic hardship. Atiku didn’t stop there. He asked Tinubu to swap his foreign holidays for visits to places like Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. “Nigeria is beautiful — unless the President believes otherwise,” he said.

On the matter of healthcare, Atiku slammed the President’s recurring medical trips abroad, calling it a clear contradiction to the self-reliance message. He insisted that Tinubu should receive all medical treatment at Nigerian hospitals such as LUTH, UCH, or the well-equipped facility in Uyo, arguing that if these hospitals are good enough for the public, they should serve the Commander-in-Chief as well.

He ended by saying the government was asking Nigerians to make sacrifices while it continued to indulge in luxury. “Real leadership means setting an example,” he said. “We don’t need more speeches or staged photos. What this country needs is action.”

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has suggested that Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), might soon throw his weight behind Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking on TVC’s Journalists Hangout, Bwala addressed the wave of defections hitting the PDP. He criticized the party for lacking clear leadership and direction, saying no right-thinking person would choose to remain in a party that seems lost and disorganized.

Bwala explained that the responsibility to prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state lies with the opposition, not the ruling party. According to him, the APC has every right to expand its base and attract more people. If opposition parties fail to present strong alternatives, they shouldn’t blame others for their internal problems.

He likened the current situation to people naturally moving towards a better environment. “If your house is in shambles, don’t blame your neighbor for having a well-kept one,” he said. He noted that even governors protected by the constitution are defecting because aligning with the federal government puts them in a better position to serve their people effectively.

Bwala also pointed out that Tinubu deserves more credit for his inclusive style of leadership. He mentioned that Tinubu is not limiting his governance to just members of his party but is engaging people across the board, regardless of political affiliation.

Wrapping up, Bwala didn’t mince words. He claimed joining the PDP now would be like putting your mental health at risk. “What we’re focused on is governance,” he added, hinting again that Atiku supporting Tinubu might not be far-fetched after all.

The presidency has suggested that it may not be God’s will for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to become Nigeria’s president, urging him to accept this reality with grace. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, shared this view during a recent interview on TVC. He spoke about the future of opposition politics and the need for political unity in the country.

Bwala advised Atiku to accept the current political situation and work together with President Tinubu to help build Nigeria’s future. “If I had the chance to meet him, I would say: ‘Your Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, you need to believe in destiny. God grants power to whomever He chooses, and from what we’re seeing, it doesn’t seem like it’s your time to govern Nigeria,’” Bwala said.

He also encouraged Atiku, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to join forces with Tinubu’s administration and leave a meaningful legacy, “even if it’s realized through someone else.”

“There are other ways to contribute,” Bwala continued. “You and President Tinubu have been friends for years—work together and help create the Nigeria you both envision. Your legacy could be one of achieving your dreams through your friend.”

However, Bwala warned that if Atiku insists on running for president again, his political future might not unfold as he hopes. “As we’ve already seen, Atiku has lost a significant portion of his political base—probably 60 to 70 percent. Younger politicians who once followed him are now eager to forge their own path, and they have no plans of backing down,” he said.

Bwala’s comments come as opposition parties see a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Atiku himself has expressed uncertainty about running for the 2027 presidency, stating that it would depend on finding a viable platform.