Dare Babalola
A former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has launched a scathing attack on former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, describing his political ambition and reported alignment with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as “dead on arrival.”
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Dare criticised Atiku’s recent television appearance, characterising it as a poor outing that failed to demonstrate leadership or present a viable alternative to the current administration.
“Atiku Abubakar’s latest television outing didn’t cover him in glory—it was a disaster, an unraveling broadcast in real time,” Dare wrote.
He argued that the interview exposed what he described as a lack of clarity, coherence and substance on key national issues, adding that Atiku failed to outline any concrete policy direction when questioned.
“What Nigerians witnessed was not leadership, not vision, and certainly not readiness for office. It was a disjointed, self-indulgent performance marked by contradictions and a startling absence of substance,” he stated.
Dare further accused the former vice-president of offering criticism without presenting credible alternatives, particularly at a time when the country is implementing economic reforms.
According to him, the opposition figure’s rhetoric reflected “personal ambition” rather than a structured plan for governance.
He also suggested that Atiku’s remarks during the interview alienated various groups, including young people and political allies, describing his posture as divisive rather than unifying.
“It was not a message of unity or coalition-building; it was a monologue of grievance. That is not leadership—it is isolation,” Dare added.
The former minister maintained that the interview may have reinforced doubts among Nigerians about Atiku’s suitability for leadership, insisting that the country requires “discipline, clarity, and a unifying vision.”
Dare concluded by asserting that Atiku’s political relevance was waning, stating that recent developments show he is “losing it—publicly, steadily, and now unmistakably.”
