Atiku’s Aide Slams Keyamo: ‘Being 100 Steps Ahead Means Nothing When Nigerians Are Hungry’

Akahi News learnt that Phrank Shaibu, media aide to former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, has fired back at Festus Keyamo over claims that President Bola Tinubu remains politically unbeatable ahead of the 2027 elections. Shaibu insisted that Nigerians are judging the Tinubu administration by its performance, not by political scheming.

Shaibu spoke while reacting to comments by Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, who had declared on Sunday that Tinubu remains politically ahead of opposition figures. The exchange has reignited the familiar battle lines between the ruling party and the opposition.

But when a government’s performance is the issue, can political rhetoric about being “100 steps ahead” convince a hungry population? Shaibu does not think so.

Keyamo: ‘You Cannot Outfox the Master’

Akahi News gathered that Keyamo had taken to X to sing the president’s praises, arguing that Tinubu’s decades of opposition experience make him untouchable.

“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,” Keyamo wrote. “He has totally flipped the script on the PDP which could not outfox him as the only surviving opposition Governor in the South-West in 2007.

“Therefore, every step the opposition takes today and every strategy they adopt is from the playbook of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He knows and understands every single step against him before they even conceive it. You cannot beat the master at his own game; you cannot outfox the man who taught almost all of us how to play opposition politics; he is 100 steps ahead of all of them.”

It was alleged that Keyamo’s post was intended as a morale booster for the APC faithful. But Shaibu saw it as an admission of failure—a retreat from governance into the comfort zone of political gamesmanship.

Shaibu: ‘Being 100 Steps Ahead Means Nothing’

Responding, Shaibu said past political victories cannot substitute for governance performance. His words were sharp, deliberate, and aimed directly at the heart of the Tinubu administration’s weak points.

“Tinubu may have excelled in opposition politics, but governance is about results, not rhetoric,” he said.

According to him, “the myth of invincibility is often the last refuge of a failing narrative.”

Shaibu said Nigerians are concerned about rising hardship and insecurity—not about who outfoxed whom in 2007.

“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,” he said.

“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!”

Shaibu did not stop there. He drove the knife deeper, arguing that political strategy without tangible results is worthless.

“Being ‘100 steps ahead’ scheming means nothing when millions of Nigerians are being dragged backwards by hunger, insecurity, and a collapsing standard of living,” he added.

“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.”

Akahi News had earlier reported on the rising cost of living and persistent security challenges that have defined much of Tinubu’s tenure. From fuel subsidy removal to naira volatility, the administration has taken bold but painful steps. Whether those steps will eventually lead to prosperity—or continued hardship—remains the central question of 2027.

It is not a child’s play to argue that a president is “100 steps ahead” when citizens cannot afford three square meals a day. Shaibu’s point is brutal but simple: political brilliance that does not translate into better lives is not brilliance at all. It is theatre.

Keyamo’s response—or lack thereof—will be watched closely. The aviation minister is known for his combative style. He rarely lets an attack go unanswered. But on this occasion, silence may speak louder than words.

For Atiku’s camp, the exchange is an opportunity to frame the 2027 election not as a contest of political strategists but as a referendum on performance. That is a dangerous framing for any incumbent, especially one whose approval ratings have been battered by economic headwinds.

For Tinubu’s camp, the challenge is to translate the president’s legendary political acumen into governance outcomes that voters can feel. Not promises. Not projections. But lower prices, safer streets, and a sense that the future is brighter than the present.

Shaibu has thrown down the gauntlet. The question now is whether the APC can pick it up—or whether “100 steps ahead” will become the epitaph of a government that outfoxed everyone except reality.

Key Summary Box

What happened: Phrank Shaibu, media aide to Atiku Abubakar, responded sharply to Festus Keyamo’s claim that President Tinubu is “100 steps ahead” of the opposition politically.
Keyamo’s position: The aviation minister argued that Tinubu’s decades of opposition experience make him unbeatable ahead of 2027.
Shaibu’s counter: He said Nigerians are judging the administration by performance, not political scheming. He described Tinubu as an “abysmal FAILURE” and argued that being “100 steps ahead” means nothing when hunger, insecurity, and a collapsing standard of living persist.
The broader context: The exchange sets the tone for the 2027 election campaign—a battle between Tinubu’s political craft and Atiku’s narrative of failed governance.
Why it matters to Nigerians: Voters are increasingly focused on tangible outcomes—food prices, security, jobs—not political gamesmanship. Shaibu’s remarks tap into widespread frustration.
Bottom line: Keyamo says Tinubu is 100 steps ahead. Shaibu says those steps are leading nowhere. Nigerians will decide which version of reality they believe in 2027.