President Bola Tinubu has questioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s moral standing to seek public office, accusing him of using public resources to establish a private university.
Tinubu made the allegation on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The President spoke while defending his administration against criticism over hunger and the rising cost of living. He blamed previous administrations for Nigeria’s economic challenges and accused Atiku of being part of the leadership that created them.
“When those people talk about hunger, remember that I am cleaning up the mess they created. Atiku was one of them,” Tinubu said.
He challenged the former Vice President to explain how he financed his private university while serving in government.
“Who funded the university for him? It was your money, your effort! A man without moral integrity, latitude, and ethics has no business holding public office,” the President added.
Tinubu did not present evidence at the rally to substantiate his allegation that public resources funded Atiku’s university.
Atiku rejects Tinubu’s allegation
Atiku responded to the President’s remarks, describing them as an attempt to distract Nigerians from the performance of his administration.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President said his investment in education began before he entered public office.
Atiku maintained that he was already pursuing his education investment when Tinubu faced a United States court case in 1993 involving the forfeiture of funds in an account linked to the President.
He said he was laying the foundation for what later became the American University of Nigeria (AUN).
“My investment in education predates my time in public service,” Atiku said.
He also challenged Tinubu to explain the allegations surrounding the US court case rather than question his educational investments.
Atiku argued that his business history was traceable and accused the President of avoiding scrutiny over his own past.
Tinubu defends pension payments
The President also accused previous administrations of leaving behind huge unpaid pension and gratuity obligations.
He said the outstanding payments ran into billions and trillions of naira. According to him, his administration is working to clear the backlog.
“The people who governed before us left unpaid pensions and gratuities running into billions and trillions of Naira. We are clearing that backlog so that every family is included and we can share in the prosperity,” Tinubu said.
He identified retired engineers, welders and teachers among those benefiting from the payments.
The President further claimed that pensioners were now receiving their entitlements on time.
Atiku accuses Tinubu of worsening economic hardship
In his response, Atiku shifted attention to the rising cost of living, poverty, insecurity and unemployment.
He accused the Tinubu administration of worsening economic conditions since taking office in 2023.
Atiku also challenged the President’s claim that his government was repairing problems inherited from previous administrations.
“A president who has plunged the country into a crushing cost-of-living crisis has no business asking Nigerians for another mandate,” he said.
He further questioned the direction of the administration’s economic reforms and argued that Nigerians were yet to experience meaningful relief.
The exchange adds to the growing political confrontation between Tinubu and Atiku ahead of the January 2027 presidential election.
Both politicians have continued to trade accusations over their records in public office as they seek support from voters.
