By Omeiza Ajayi
Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has pushed back again at claims by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, that President Bola Tinubu holds a commanding political edge over opposition rivals ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exchange was ignited by a post Keyamo made on his verified X account on Sunday, in which he spotlighted the president’s storied trajectory through Nigerian politics.
“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,” the minister tweeted.
However, Shaibu wasted no time firing back on his own X handle, @phrankangel, arguing that a history of political wins means little without the governance record to match.
“Tinubu may have excelled in opposition politics, but governance is about results, not rhetoric,” he said, adding pointedly that “the myth of invincibility is often the last refuge of a failing narrative.”
In a more expansive response, Shaibu said, “The myth of invincibility is often the last refuge of a failing narrative. Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have had his moments in opposition politics, but governance is not a game of chess – it is a duty to deliver results. Today, Nigerians are not asking who once outfoxed whom in 2007; they are asking why hunger is rising, why insecurity persists, and why the cost of living has become unbearable.
“Being ‘100 steps ahead’ should reflect in better lives for citizens, not in clever political storytelling. If anything, the current realities suggest a government struggling to keep pace with the very crises confronting it.
“History may remember political battles, but the present will judge leadership by performance, and on that scale, no amount of myth-making can mask the truth. He is an abysmal FAILURE!
“Being ‘100 steps ahead’ scheming means nothing when millions of Nigerians are being dragged backwards by hunger, insecurity, and a collapsing standard of living. What is the value of strategy if it cannot put food on the table, secure lives, or restore dignity to the average citizen? Governance is not a masterclass in manipulation – it is a test of compassion, competence, and courage.
“Today, Nigerians are not impressed by recycled opposition tactics dressed up as brilliance; they are confronted daily by empty pockets, unsafe communities, and a government that appears disconnected from their pain. No amount of propaganda can mask a reality that is this loud,” he stated.
