Sunday Dare, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers and Kaduna governors, Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai, as some “wannabes” “heating up the polity” while Mr Tinubu is working hard to fix the country. 

In a statement on Sunday, Mr Dare dismissed the barrage of criticisms against his principal from Mr Abubakar, Mr Amaechi, and Mr El-Rufai, labelling them detractors of the government.  

“Indeed, while the President was seeking solutions to Nigeria’s energy problems in Dar es Salaam, some ‘wannabes’ were heating up the polity,” Mr Dare said, referring to the trio’s recent criticism of Mr Tinubu at an Abuja conference on strengthening democracy last Monday.  

“Expectedly, it was a gathering convened to further spread ill will. Nothing new came out of the gathering different from the opposition script we are used to. A few of the participants went overboard in their vitriol, fanning the embers for adopting undemocratic actions,” Mr Dare said.  

Mr Dare said Mr Tinubu is focused on fixing Nigeria and ready to face whoever challenges him in the 2027 presidential election.  

“The clouds are beginning to clear. The stage sets soon. The combat begins,” Mr Dare said. “This is 2025, not 2027. Let those who want to test their popularity with Nigerians wait for the next election. President Tinubu is fully focused on providing the leadership that will transform our country.”  

At the Abuja conference last week, Mr Abubakar alleged the Tinubu-led government is out to destroy opposition parties, while Mr Amaechi charged the opposition to brace up to seize power because Mr Tinubu, like other politicians, will not relinquish power unless the opposition is virile enough to wrest it.  

Mr El-Rufai, during his speech at the conference, amplified Mr Abubakar’s stance, berating the ruling All Progressives Congress for bequeathing a selfish and illiterate leader to the country.