THE Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has described former Vice-President 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 Atiku in a BBC interview in which the former vice-president alleged that President Tinubu is 90 years old, with the presidential aide dismissing the claim as part of what he described as Atiku’s desperation to become president.
News Point Nigeria reports that Atiku had said he had evidence to support his claim about Tinubu’s age and would present the evidence in court.
Speaking late on Saturday, Ajayi said Atiku’s claim was driven by desperation to become president of Nigeria.
“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 questioned Atiku’s focus on President Tinubu’s personal life, arguing that it was inconsistent with the former vice-president’s 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.
He described the claim that Tinubu is 90 years old as ridiculous, accusing Atiku of making statements without sufficient basis in an attempt to revive what he described as a failing campaign.
“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 said.
The presidential aide also accused Atiku of resorting to personal attacks against Tinubu in an attempt to draw attention to his campaign after failing to convince Nigerians about his position on fuel subsidy.
According to Ajayi, 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.
Ajayi challenged Atiku to take his claim about Tinubu’s age to court and present whatever evidence he claimed to possess.
“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,” he said.