₦airaland Forum

Temitope Ajayi, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, has described Atiku Abubakar’s claim that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old as the "last kick of a dying horse".

Ajayi was reacting to a statement by the former vice-president in a BBC interview in which he alleged that Tinubu is 90 years old.

Atiku had said he had evidence to support the claim and would present it in court.

Ajayi told Saturday Tribune on Friday that Atiku’s claim was driven by desperation to become president.

"For former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, this is the last kick of a dying horse. He will stop at nothing in his desperation for the presidency of Nigeria. He is racing against time in his quest for the fulfilment of his marabouts' prophecy," he said.

Ajayi said Atiku's focus on Tinubu’s personal life was inconsistent with his stated intention to campaign on issues affecting Nigerians.

"We are at a loss as to why a man who said he wants to run his campaign on issues that affect the lives of Nigerians has reduced his chance of ever realising his elusive ambition to the personal life of President Tinubu," the presidential aide said.

"It is ridiculous to claim President Tinubu is 90 years old. Alhaji Atiku wakes up every day to just say whatever comes to his mouth with the hope that his failing campaign will gain traction."

Ajayi also accused Atiku of using personal attacks against Tinubu to draw attention to his campaign after failing to convince Nigerians about his position on fuel subsidy.

He said Atiku had become "incoherent and flip-flopping on policy issues" while offering different explanations for his proposal to restore fuel subsidy.

"When he could not convince Nigerians of the soundness and workability of his new fuel subsidy prescription, the only way he hopes to remain in the news cycle and keep his floundering campaign alive is to increase the volume of personal attacks on the president," Ajayi said.


"Let him go to court to present the evidence that President Tinubu is 90 years old. He has failed everywhere against President Tinubu, moving from court to court. He failed in his numerous court cases against President Tinubu in the United States and Nigeria in the last election cycle. He will fail again this time around."

AMINDA:
Does the man in these pictures look 49? You be the judge.

emkz:
The man said he is 49, you said he doesn't look 49. Tell us how old he looks and supply proof. That is what a sensible person is expected to do.

AMINDA:
See logic. I lost some grey matter reading that. The fact that you say you're 19, does not automatically make you 19. Records, evidence and proofs exists for a reason. Along with other aspects of his background, educational qualifications and past dealings, his age is another matter that is being litigated upon. How can you now ask us to go merely by what he says when there are so many controversies about it? For example, he was 52 back in 1998 when he just came back straight from exile.

AMINDA:
Does the man in these pictures look 49? You be the judge.

Chucks13:
After 2027 we will make sure atiku neva remain in Nigeria we wil pursue him to the wall and he might escape as his son in law escaped with Hijab like a woman cus we will open gate of hell for him and obi its a promise..

AMINDA:
Does the man in these pictures look 49? You be the judge.

99thEnemy:
According to Atiku's football age, he will be 84 by 2031's general election.

HisaacPlus:
You can decide to take it as 94 then!

IamPatriotic:
Atiku is fighting for his political life. Unfortunately, the fight is against an astute and formidable opponent, and a devastating defeat is guaranteed. If only he had fought this dirty in 2011, or stayed calm in PDP and supported Jonathan while waiting for 2015, perhaps he would be referred to as a former President today.

SixSeven:
Look at the ages of Bola Tinubu's 1999 cabinet members when they were appointed in 1999 (when Tinubu was 47 years old):

Lai Mohammed (Chief of Staff) - Born 1951 (48 years old)

Wale Edun (Finance) - Born 1956 (43 years old)

Dele Alake (Information and Strategy) - Born 1956 (43 years old)

Yemi Osinbajo (Justice & Attorney General) - Born 1957 (42 years old)

Rauf Aregbesola (Works) - Born 1957 (42 years old)

Olayemi Cardoso (Economic Planning & Budget) Born 1957 (42 years old)

Ben Akabueze (Budget and Economic Planning) - Born 1959 (40 years old)

Babatunde Fashola (Succeeded as Chief of Staff) - Born 1963 (36 years old)

Muiz Banire (Special Duties / Transportation) - Born 1966 (33 years old)

Lanre Towry-Coker (Commissioner for Housing) Born 1944. 55 years old at inauguration.

Kaoli Olusanya (Commissioner for Agriculture) - Born 1952. 47 years old at inauguration.

Olateju (Teju) Phillips (Commissioner for Commerce and Industry) - Born 1953. 46 years old at inauguration.

Kayode Anibaba (Commissioner for Environment and Physical Planning) - Born 1954. 45 years old at inauguration.

Kemi Nelson (Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation) - Born February 9, 1956. 43 years old at inauguration.

Leke Pitan (Commissioner for Health) - Born 1956. 42 or 43 years old at inauguration depending on his exact birth month.

Even Gilbert Chagoury (Business Associate) was born January 8, 1946 and was 53 years old in 1999.

Buccalcavity2:
I just like Atiku. He has to prove to coalition that he is the most preffered. Since coalition is considering a single candidate, he don dey churn out different lines just to be conspicuous and he don dey silent Obi, Duke,.....
Unknown to him, it is late in the day, 2027 election is already won.