By Our Reporter
Spokesman to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Paul Ibe, has dismissed recent attacks on the newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the movement is a patriotic effort guided by national interest and not by desperation, as alleged by officials of the Tinubu administration.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Keeping Them Honest, Ibe delivered a point-by-point rebuttal to criticisms levelled by both Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who had earlier described Atiku and other opposition leaders as “spent forces” and “political desperados.”
Responding to Onanuga’s post on X, in which the presidential aide dismissed the ADC coalition as a gathering of disgruntled politicians, Ibe said, “Well, I wonder what Bayo Onanuga meant by ‘spent.’ Is it in terms of years in politics, or because they lost to Tinubu in 2023? Because if we’re talking about who appears spent, then look no further than President Tinubu himself.”
Ibe went on to argue that Tinubu, more than any of the opposition leaders, exhibits signs of political fatigue and opacity. “When you look at Tinubu, what comes to mind is not energy or clarity. This is a man whose age is unclear, whose school history is suspect, and whose life story is riddled with contradictions. You cannot claim vibrancy while carrying that much baggage.”
Wike, who had earlier accused the opposition of seeking to destabilize the government due to their failure to gain power, also drew fire from Ibe. During a media chat in Abuja, the FCT Minister had declared that opposition leaders were “politically expired” and were “frustrated elements” unhappy with their diminishing influence.
But Ibe pushed back, describing Wike’s statement as ironic. “The very man who is now benefiting from the coalition of 2015, and who himself has more or less left the PDP for the APC, is now calling others desperate for doing the same. What changed? Is it no longer democracy when those out of power unite to challenge the status quo?”
The opposition coalition, which includes figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and David Mark, was launched this week under the ADC platform with the aim of providing a credible political alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections. Onanuga had described the move as a convergence of discredited politicians driven by animosity against President Tinubu, warning that the alliance would soon collapse under the weight of conflicting ambitions.
But Ibe insisted that the coalition was bound by a singular focus: Nigeria. “The interest driving this coalition is the Nigerian interest. Not Atiku’s interest, not Obi’s, not El-Rufai’s. They are harmonising strengths because the nation is in crisis, and what we need now is collective action to fix it,” he said.
He also revealed that the coalition plans to adopt a democratic structure rooted in open primaries and competitive processes. “No imposition, no coronation. What’s being proposed is a truly democratic party with clear ideology and open internal democracy — not a cult-like structure driven by one man’s ego,” Ibe said.
He pointed to the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as interim chairman as evidence of the coalition’s seriousness and credibility. “They chose David Mark because he is not a politician you can push around. He has integrity and the experience to guide this movement through its formative phase.”
Onanuga’s earlier statement had mocked several figures within the coalition, including Amaechi, Abubakar Malami, Rauf Aregbesola, and former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, suggesting they had either lost relevance or were facing corruption allegations. But Ibe said it was a deflection tactic. “Rather than address the deepening economic hardship and insecurity under their watch, they’re trying to label anyone who criticizes them as irrelevant or corrupt. It won’t work.”
He added, “It is not lost on Nigerians that many of the people Onanuga insulted were instrumental to APC’s rise in 2015. If they’ve become enemies now, it says more about the party’s internal decay than the individuals themselves.”
Ibe urged Nigerians to judge the ADC coalition by its vision and values, not propaganda. “This coalition is not about recycling ambition. It is about rescuing a country in decline. We invite every Nigerian, especially the youth, to watch closely and engage.”
He noted that the coalition’s next steps would involve consultations at the grassroots, a national convention, with an open invitation to all Nigerians who believe in unity, transparency, and reform.