Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed the criticisms leveled against his principal by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo as mere “sycophancy.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program on Thursday, Ibe challenged Keyamo’s standing, asking, “Where was Keyamo when Atiku Abubakar was in the frontline battling the military and eventually, with other compatriots, able to get them out? Where was he? He is just playing to the gallery. Sycophancy is the end game.”
Ibe also vehemently faulted Keyamo’s accusation of impersonation regarding Atiku’s use of the Nigerian Coat of Arms in his correspondences.
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He asserted, “Nobody is impersonating anybody. Atiku Abubakar is a former vice president. That is known. I don’t want to dignify him (Keyamo). He can go to court if he wants to.”
The controversy arose after reports emerged Wednesday that Atiku, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, had left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), an opposition coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo had immediately criticized Atiku’s defection, but Ibe countered, rejecting the notion that Atiku, 78, is too old to run for president.
He pointed to US President Donald Trump, who is 79, asking, “Is Atiku Abubakar healthy? Is he strong? Does he have any infirmity?”
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Regarding Atiku’s future political affiliations, Ibe stated that his principal would determine that, adding that he believes “the coalition offers a great prospect to reclaim and to rebuild Nigeria.”
Ibe further cautioned Keyamo to prioritize his ministerial duties, accusing him of “majoring on minors” and neglecting pressing aviation issues such as airport infrastructure, runways, and broken toilets.
“I believe he has a whole lot on his plate to deal with… and he still has time to talk about the resignation of someone in the PDP,” he remarked.
Ibe also criticized the Tinubu administration, alleging attempts to “railroad all political parties into one party,” which he likened to a “civilian dictatorship.”
He claimed that state instruments, including anti-corruption agencies, are being used to coerce politicians into the APC, which he views as contrary to democratic principles where people should make their own choices.
Defending Atiku’s consistent presidential ambition, Ibe stated that there is “nothing wrong with ambitions” and that Atiku’s is “genuine ambition to improve the lot of Nigerians.”
He affirmed that Atiku will not resign from politics as long as he possesses good health, strength, vitality, and the necessary acumen and skills to contribute to the nation’s progress.
Ibe concluded that Atiku’s accumulated skills and experience position him to make a significant difference as president, emphasizing, “it is not about how long he has run; it is about how well, if given the opportunity.”
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