KEYAMO: ATIKU’S ATTACKS ON TINUBU ARE SIGNS OF ‘POLITICAL DEPRESSION’

By NaijaParrot October 10, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — 

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his recent remarks against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the opposition politician’s criticism as a sign of what he called “agitated depression.” Keyamo made the comments in a statement on Friday, October 9, amid an intensifying political exchange between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

KEYAMO ACCUSES ATIKU OF BITTERNESS 

 The minister argued that Atiku’s criticism of Tinubu was driven by bitterness over the President’s emergence as Nigeria’s leader in the 2023 presidential election. According to Keyamo, the two politicians followed different political paths over several decades, but Tinubu eventually secured the presidency on his first attempt, while Atiku has pursued the position through multiple presidential contests. Keyamo suggested that the outcome had been difficult for the former Vice-President to accept. However, these remarks represent the minister’s personal political assessment and do not establish Atiku’s emotional or mental-health condition. 

 ATIKU HAD CRITICISED TINUBU’S FUEL PRICE RELIEF PLAN 

 The exchange followed Atiku’s criticism of the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol price discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) retail outlets. Atiku questioned what would happen after the temporary discount expires, arguing that a short-term measure would not adequately address the economic difficulties facing Nigerians. He also accused Tinubu of adopting an idea similar to his proposed petroleum pricing policy while leaving out measures he believed were necessary to provide lasting relief. The Federal Government, however, has maintained that the discount is a commercial decision by NNPC Retail to temporarily forgo part of its profit margin, rather than a return to the fuel subsidy regime. 

 KEYAMO CALLS ON ATIKU’S ASSOCIATES TO SUPPORT HIM 

 In his statement, Keyamo urged people close to Atiku to support the former Vice-President rather than encourage what he characterised as politically damaging public statements. He also invoked a biblical passage to argue that political power depends on factors beyond personal ambition and effort. The minister’s remarks have added another dimension to the political exchanges between supporters of Tinubu and opposition figures as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum. 

 POLITICAL CRITICISM AND MENTAL HEALTH CLAIMS

 Keyamo’s use of the term “agitated depression” was part of his political attack on Atiku. He did not provide clinical evidence establishing that the former Vice-President has a mental-health condition. Political disagreements and criticism of government policies do not, on their own, establish a person’s mental-health status. Atiku’s criticism of the fuel discount focused on its duration and effectiveness, while Keyamo framed the opposition leader’s remarks as a reaction to political defeat. The two positions reflect the continuing dispute over the Tinubu administration’s policies and the arguments likely to feature in the build-up to the next presidential election. 

 NaijaParrot will continue to follow the political exchanges and policy debates shaping Nigeria’s road to the 2027 general elections. 

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