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President accuses former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of using public resources to establish a private university while in office.
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Tinubu says previous administrations left billions and trillions of naira in unpaid pensions and gratuities, insisting his government is clearing the backlog.
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Governor Siminalayi Fubara pledges at least three million Rivers votes for Tinubu in 2027, declaring an APC-PDP Rainbow Coalition under Nyesom Wike’s leadership.
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Wike declares Rivers State firmly behind Tinubu, citing federal appointments and infrastructure projects, as the President praises his contribution to national development.
November 07, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of using public resources to establish a private university while serving in government, insisting that his administration was cleaning up economic problems inherited from previous administrations.
Tinubu made the allegation at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he defended his administration’s economic policies and challenged critics to account for their records in public office.
The President’s remarks came amid growing political mobilisation ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election, with the APC and its allies seeking to consolidate support for his re-election bid in Rivers State and the wider South-South region.
Responding to criticism over hunger and economic hardship, Tinubu said his administration was addressing problems created by previous governments.
“When those people talk about hunger, remember that I am cleaning up the mess they created. Atiku was one of them”, he said.
The President specifically questioned how Atiku established his private university while serving as Vice President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when he was also responsible for coordinating economic affairs.
“Ask him how he built a university while in office as Vice President in charge of the economy. Who built it for him? It was your money”, Tinubu added.
He further questioned the former Vice President’s moral standing to seek public office, alleging that public resources were used to establish the institution. The President did not present evidence at the rally to substantiate the allegation.
Tinubu also blamed previous administrations for leaving behind substantial arrears of pensions and gratuities, saying his government was working to settle outstanding payments owed to retired public servants.
“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”, he stated.
He identified retired engineers, welders and teachers among those benefiting from the payments, maintaining that his administration was committed to ensuring pensioners received their entitlements.
Fubara Pledges Three Million Votes
At the rally, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, pledged to deliver at least three million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, declaring that the state had resolved to support the President’s re-election.
Fubara, who credited FCT Minister Nyesom Wike with providing the political leadership for the arrangement, said the state was working towards a common political front involving members of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Under the guidance and leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, we will deliver not less than three million votes for you”, the governor told Tinubu.
He subsequently announced that Rivers State was operating a Rainbow Coalition comprising members of both parties.
“Let me also announce that in Rivers State, we are doing a Rainbow Coalition (APC and PDP)”, he declared.
Fubara urged party leaders and supporters to begin grassroots mobilisation in their respective wards and polling units, expressing confidence that the state would fulfil its commitment to the President.
The governor’s declaration comes against the background of the prolonged political crisis between him and Wike, his predecessor, which divided the state’s political leadership and triggered a dispute over the control of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Tinubu, who intervened in the political dispute, acknowledged Fubara’s role in the reconciliation process and commended him for accepting the intervention.
“During the political crisis caused by a misunderstanding in the family, I intervened on your behalf. I thank Governor Fubara specifically for his maturity, understanding and respect for the wisdom of elders when we intervened”, the President said.
He assured Fubara that he would not regret his decision to embrace the reconciliation.
“Fubara, you will not regret what you have done as long as we’re alive”, Tinubu added.
Wike Declares Rivers For Tinubu, Attacks Amaechi
Earlier, Wike declared that Rivers people had settled on Tinubu as their preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election, attributing the state’s support to the President’s appointments and infrastructure projects.
Wike, who coordinated the presidential campaign activities in Rivers, made the declaration while welcoming Tinubu and his delegation to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
He insisted that the rally was organised by Rivers people without mobilisation from other states.
“Your Excellency, this is Rivers State’s rally. We did not mobilise anybody from any other state. You can see with your eyes that the people of Rivers State have already concluded and agreed that on January 16, they will vote for you”, he said.
The FCT minister said the Tinubu administration had given Rivers State considerable political recognition through federal appointments.
“Since the inception of democracy in 1999, Rivers people have never had it this way. We have no less than 47 political appointments from Mr President. So, who is our brother? Our brother is Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he has identified with the people of Rivers State”, he said.
Wike also took a swipe at former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, challenging him to account for his record in office.
Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation and a leading opposition figure, is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its presidential campaign.
Wike questioned the outcome of an alleged fumigation exercise undertaken during Amaechi’s administration, using the issue to challenge his record.
“All we are saying to the vice-presidential candidate is, please, come and give an account of how you fumigated Rivers State. You fumigated Rivers State so that there would be no mosquitoes. Have mosquitoes gone? Are mosquitoes not biting you?” he asked.
He also recalled Amaechi’s role as Director-General of the presidential campaign of former President Muhammadu Buhari, claiming that the APC failed to secure up to 15 per cent of the votes cast in Rivers State in the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.
Tinubu Hails Wike, Praises Crowd At Rally
Tinubu, in his address, praised Wike for his contribution to infrastructure development, describing the FCT minister as a development partner of his administration.
“Wike is already a development partner to the Bola Tinubu administration. He’s very hardworking. Help me thank him for his contribution to the infrastructural development of our country,” the President said.
He also expressed satisfaction with the turnout at the stadium, describing the gathering as unprecedented.
“This kind of crowd is unprecedented”, Tinubu said.
The rally followed Tinubu’s visit to Rivers State, where he formally commissioned the Bodo-Bonny Road, a major federal infrastructure project linking Bonny Island to the mainland.
The road is expected to improve transportation and economic activities in Bonny Island, a major oil and gas hub in the Niger Delta that had long depended largely on water transportation for access to the mainland.
The commissioning and the campaign rally formed part of Tinubu’s engagements in the South-South region as the APC intensifies mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
The gathering brought together APC leaders, political stakeholders and supporters, with Wike and Fubara publicly declaring their support for the President’s second-term ambition.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
