The public bickering between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, along with their respective supporters, has taken an unbecoming dimension that not only demeans and sullies the essence of public service, it is an embarrassment to the high offices they currently hold, or have held; and an affront to the dignity of Nigeria’s political space. As leaders of their respective political parties representing millions of Nigerians, both men owe the country a higher level of discourse, that prioritizes nation-building over petty quarrels and personal vendettas. These titans of Nigeria’s political landscape are behaving like squabbling market women or feuding kindergarten teens – petty, loud, and utterly devoid of the decorum expected of leaders entrusted with the hopes and dreams of over 200 million Nigerians. Nigeria faces some of the most severe challenges in its history – economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and a broken social contract – have plunged millions into deeper poverty, demanding the full attention of those in power and those aspiring to it. At such a critical juncture, Nigerians need their leaders to inspire confidence, show empathy, and prioritize effective governance. What they do not need is the distraction of personal feuds or ego battles. Nigerians are crying out for leadership. It is time to stop the insults and temper tantrums. The world is watching.
Atiku recently admonished President Tinubu to focus on governance rather than dissipating energy on premature permutations for the 2027 presidential election. This, he argues, distracts from the serious work of addressing Nigeria’s monumental economic and social challenges. The Presidency’s response was swift and defensive. Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication, Sunday Dare, dismissed Atiku’s criticisms, casting vituperative aspersions on his credibility based on his political antecedents and performance during the Obasanjo administration. The Presidency further accused Atiku of attempting to undermine Tinubu’s economic reforms while advancing what it characterized as a self-serving agenda. Such exchanges have now become the hallmark of the relationship between these two leaders, leaving Nigerians to watch in dismay as the political conversation is dragged into the mud.
It is deeply disappointing that two prominent Nigerian leaders – one a sitting President, the other a former Vice President – have turned the nation’s political discourse into a mud-slinging contest. Instead of engaging in meaningful, constructive dialogue about Nigeria’s myriad challenges, Nigerians are being subjected to a spectacle of accusations, counter-accusations, and personal jabs that demean the offices they occupy or once occupied. This is not the behavior of statesmen; it is the behavior of men who have lost sight of their responsibilities to the people. Atiku’s admonition for Tinubu to focus on governance rather than the 2027 presidential race raises valid concerns. Yet, Atiku’s critique, when delivered in such a confrontational manner, loses its impact and becomes little more than a political tantrum. On the other hand, Tinubu has not covered himself in glory. The response to Atiku, issued through an aide, is equally juvenile and steeped in personal attacks rather than a robust defense of policies. This tit-for-tat exchange is beneath the dignity of the offices they represent.
Let us remind these men of who they are – and who they are not. Atiku and Tinubu are not street fighters in a market brawl. They are not kindergarten teens trading insults on a playground. They are leaders who have shaped Nigeria’s history and are tasked with shaping its future. Their words carry weight, not just for their followers but for the nation as a whole. To see them stoop to such low levels of public discourse is a betrayal of the people who look to them for leadership and inspiration. If Atiku has genuine concerns about the Tinubu administration’s policies, let him articulate them with the gravitas of a statesman, not the pettiness of a jilted rival. Similarly, if Tinubu is confident in his policies and reforms, let him defend them with facts, gumption, and respect for dissenting views, not by digging into Atiku’s political past to score cheap points. The public space is not an arena for settling personal scores; it is a platform for elevating the national conversation and addressing the issues that matter to the people.
Nigerians are tired of being pawns in the game of political brinkmanship. They are searching for hope, stability, and solutions to their everyday struggles. At this critical juncture Nigerian leaders must set a better example. This disgraceful bickering must stop immediately. Atiku and Tinubu must recognize that their responsibility to the nation far outweighs any personal grievances they may have against one another. The public space should be edified by their conduct and contributions, not debased by petty quarrels. As the nation navigates these turbulent times, Nigerians expect better from their leaders. If Atiku and Tinubu cannot find common ground, they can at least agree to keep their disagreements civil and focus their energies on the urgent task of nation-building. They must reject the politics of insult and embrace the politics of ideas. Let them rise to the occasion, not only to dignify their positions but to truly serve the Nigerian people.
This public spat highlights a disturbing failure of leadership. Nigeria is facing monumental challenges: economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and a rapidly eroding social contract. The citizens, battered by these realities, are desperately seeking hope and solutions. Instead, they are being forced to watch two of their most prominent leaders act like petulant children, prioritizing ego over empathy and political gamesmanship over governance. Nigerians deserve better. They deserve leaders who can rise above personal grievances and focus on the greater good. They deserve statesmen who understand that leadership is not about who can shout the loudest or land the sharpest insult but about who can inspire trust, unity, and progress.
Atiku and Tinubu must be reminded that their quarrels are not the priority. The hunger, despair, and anger in the land are the priority. The crumbling infrastructure, skyrocketing inflation, and pervasive insecurity are the priority. The children out of school, the businesses closing their doors, and the families struggling to survive are the priority. The time for petty quarrels is over. If these men cannot find the maturity to engage in civil discourse, they should shut up and allow those who can rise to the occasion to do so. Their bickering does not put food on the table, or fix the country’s myriad problems. All it does is distract from the real issues and deepen the disillusionment of a populace already weary of unproductive leadership.
The ongoing spat between these two leaders is unbecoming of statesmen who have held the public’s trust for decades. Nigerians deserve a more dignified and issue-based discourse from those who seek to lead or critique leadership. It is one thing to disagree on policy; it is another to descend into personal attacks and recriminations that offer no solutions. Both men must remember that leadership is about service, not personal aggrandizement or political point-scoring. Atiku, as a former Vice President and perennial presidential candidate, should channel his critiques into actionable alternatives to help Nigerians navigate these challenging times. Tinubu, as sitting President, must rise above the fray, focusing on uniting the nation and delivering on his promises. Both men should know that their public utterances shape not only their legacies but also the political culture of the nation.
Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu are not just individuals; they are institutions in Nigerian politics. As such, they have a responsibility to conduct themselves with the decorum and seriousness their positions demand. They must recognize that their actions set the tone for political discourse in the country. By behaving like quarrelsome market women or immature teens, they send a message to Nigerians—and to the world—that the nation’s leaders are incapable of maturity, unity, or focus. This is a moment for both men to rise above their personal grievances and demonstrate true leadership. Let them remember that their legacies will not be defined by how well they traded insults but by how effectively they addressed the issues that matter most to Nigerians. Leaders are judged by how they rise above criticism, not by how they trade barbs with opponents. It is time to stop the bickering, dignify the public space, and get to work. Nigerians cannot afford any less.
