Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has strongly criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo, declaring that the ex-leader’s political influence no longer carries any meaningful electoral weight ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, Frank reacted to Obasanjo’s recent comments concerning the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He accused the former president of repeatedly turning Atiku into an election-year scapegoat rather than promoting any candidate of his own choice.
Frank described Obasanjo’s interventions as a predictable and tired ritual that Nigerians have grown familiar with and that will not determine the outcome of the 2027 polls.
“Your political value is whitewash and a ruse because any candidate you support has always been defeated at the polls, even in your state of Ogun,” Frank stated.
He urged Obasanjo to stop what he called stale blackmail tactics against Atiku and instead openly campaign for any preferred candidate if he has one.
“It is your prerogative not to support Alhaji Atiku, which is constitutional, but using this blackmail tactic is stale and wouldn’t give your preferred candidate victory at the polls,” Frank said. “Sell your candidate if you have one at all and refrain from allowing yourself to be used before the issue of Atiku becomes a nightmare that may eventually consume you.”
Frank further challenged the former president to focus on the performance of the current administration rather than making Atiku the constant centre of his political comments. He maintained that the ultimate choice of Nigeria’s next president rests with the electorate and not with any political godfather.
“If it is destined for Atiku to become President, neither you nor anyone else can stop it,” he added. “Hopefully, by God’s grace, you will witness Atiku becoming President before you leave this earth.”
Frank concluded by calling on Obasanjo to act as a true elder statesman and abandon what he described as a recurring “comedy skit” every four years.