- Says ‘Obi Ran Away From Anambra Erosion, I Confronted Atlantic Ocean’
- Atiku Lacks Leadership Character, Cannot Keep His Political House In Order
- Gov Eno Stakes 2m Votes On Ibom Deep Sea Port
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday turned Akwa Ibom into a political battlefield, launching a blistering assault on opposition presidential contenders Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar while securing a dramatic two-million-vote pledge from Governor Umo Eno in exchange for the long-awaited Ibom Deep Sea Port.
In what amounted to an early declaration of political warfare ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election, Tinubu took direct aim at Obi’s record as former Anambra State governor, questioning his capacity to confront difficult national challenges and contrasting his performance with what he described as his own achievement in confronting the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos.
The President, who spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, dismissed the leadership credentials of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, accusing him of abandoning the challenge of erosion in Anambra.
In a provocative comparison that drew cheers from the crowd, Tinubu declared:
“In Anambra State, he could not confront erosion. I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confronted the Atlantic Ocean.”
The President also credited Governor Eno with confronting erosion and infrastructure challenges in Akwa Ibom, using the comparison to question the leadership character and competence of opposition politicians seeking to replace him in 2027.
“They lack the leadership, character and traits,” Tinubu declared.
He further questioned Obi’s political journey across parties, asking whether abandoning political platforms over disagreements demonstrated the temperament required to lead a country as complex as Nigeria.
“Is that a leadership trait? Is that a leadership character?” he asked.
ATIKU IN TINUBU’S FIRING LINE: ‘HE CANNOT PUT HIS HOUSE IN ORDER’
The President did not spare the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, whom he also accused of lacking the leadership character required to govern Nigeria.
Taking a swipe at the former vice-president’s political history, Tinubu questioned his loyalty and ability to manage political relationships, referencing his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ADC.
Tinubu argued that a politician who could not maintain unity within his political family should not expect Nigerians to entrust him with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the federation.
He asked whether Atiku’s movement from the PDP, where he had occupied prominent positions, to another political platform demonstrated the consistency and character expected of a national leader.
The President’s attack came against the backdrop of the ADC’s ongoing leadership crisis following the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the Senator David Mark-led leadership and affected the process that produced Atiku as its presidential candidate.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima also mounted a sustained offensive against Atiku, questioning what his decades in politics had produced in terms of enduring institutions, political successors and leadership structures.
Shettima argued that the presidency was not a retirement benefit for politicians with long years of political experience.
“The presidency is not a retirement benefit for long years in politics. It is a responsibility that must be earned through ideas, competence, organisation, public confidence and demonstrable results,” the Vice-President declared.
He challenged Atiku to identify the governors and deputy governors he had nurtured in Adamawa State who remained committed to his political ambitions, insisting that leadership must be measured by what a politician builds and sustains.
TWO MILLION VOTES FOR TINUBU: ENO MAKES BIG BET ON IBOM PORT
But the biggest political bargain of the Uyo rally came when Governor Umo Eno placed a massive electoral commitment on the table, promising Tinubu two million votes in Akwa Ibom State if the Federal Government approved the Ibom Deep Sea Port project.
Making the demand before thousands of supporters, Eno described the port as the most important economic project for the state, insisting that its realisation would transform Akwa Ibom into a major maritime, industrial and commercial hub.
“Give us Ibom Deep Seaport, we will deliver two million votes,” the governor declared.
He explained that the proposed facility would unlock economic opportunities across Akwa Ibom and the wider South-South region, create thousands of jobs, attract international investments and open new channels for international trade.
The governor’s request immediately received a presidential response.
In a dramatic moment that electrified the rally, Tinubu announced his approval of the project.
“Your request for the Ibom Deep Sea Port is hereby approved. The Ibom Deep Sea Port will bring associated economic value and economic development to the people, just as the governor has said,” the President declared.
The approval effectively transformed the rally into a major political and economic moment for Akwa Ibom, with Eno describing the President’s decision as a fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration of the state.
The project, originally conceived during the administration of former Governor Victor Attah as the Ibaka Deep Sea Port and industrial city, has remained unrealised for decades despite repeated efforts to secure Federal Government backing.
Eno said the port would serve as a major transshipment hub, create employment for thousands of people and position Akwa Ibom as a destination for international trade and investment.
TINUBU: 2027 ELECTION WILL DEFINE NIGERIA’S FUTURE
Beyond the attacks on his political opponents, Tinubu used the Uyo rally to defend his administration’s record and appeal to voters to renew his mandate.
He described the January 16, 2027 election as consequential, arguing that his government had moved Nigeria away from the threat of fiscal collapse and economic uncertainty.
The President recalled that when he assumed office in May 2023, 27 of the 36 states were struggling to meet salary obligations, let alone pensions and gratuities.
“Today, I stand before you to say we are out of that dark tunnel,” he declared.
He also urged young Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, describing the PVC as their most powerful instrument for determining the country’s political future.
“The weapon you have is the PVC,” he told the crowd.
Tinubu promised continued investments in education, skills development, infrastructure, agriculture and job creation, insisting that his administration was determined to break the cycle of poverty and ignorance.
He particularly commended Eno for what he described as his commitment to infrastructure and human capital development, saying his administration would continue to support projects capable of creating economic value for the people.
APC TARGETS SOUTH-SOUTH, DECLARES NO NEED TO RIG
The APC leadership also used the occasion to project confidence in Tinubu’s re-election prospects, insisting that the ruling party would not need electoral manipulation to secure victory in 2027.
National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, said the administration’s achievements and the party’s growing political structures would be sufficient to deliver another mandate.
“We don’t need to rig. We don’t need to add one vote to Mr President. He can win squarely,” he declared.
Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, also set a target of at least 1.6 million votes for Tinubu in Akwa Ibom, challenging party leaders and stakeholders to mobilise support across the state.
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors Forum and South-South governors, assured Tinubu of the region’s support.
“The Coastal Highway is a masterpiece. No President, living or dead, ever conceived it. All six governors of the South-South are solidly behind you. Carry go,” Diri said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also praised the President’s leadership, thanking him for approving the establishment of a Federal University of Agriculture, a Federal University of Technology and a Police Academy in Akwa Ibom.
A POLITICAL HOMECOMING WITH ECONOMIC PROMISES
For Tinubu, the Uyo visit was also an opportunity to reconnect with a state where he once worked as an auditor with Mobil.
Recalling his professional days in the state, the President described the visit as a homecoming, noting that he had participated in the development of communities such as Ibeno and Eket before eventually becoming Nigeria’s President.
Before the political rally, Tinubu inaugurated the new Victor Attah International Airport terminal building, Ring Road 3, linking Idoro Road to Ikot Ekpene Road through Uyo and Ibiono Ibom, and the Arise Palm Resort.
He also approved the upgrade of Victor Attah International Airport to international status.
The President’s approval of the Ibom Deep Sea Port, however, emerged as the defining political and economic announcement of the visit.
With Eno promising two million votes in return, Tinubu left Uyo with a major political commitment, a significant infrastructure pledge and an opportunity to strengthen the APC’s position in the South-South ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
