Tinubu mocks Obi on erosion failure in Anambra

President Bola Tinubu used a rally in Akwa Ibom State on Friday to jab at the opposition, specifically targeting the “tinubu erosion” narrative that he said highlights former Anambra governor Peter Obi’s inability to deal with the state’s severe erosion crisis. Speaking to a crowd of All Progressives Congress supporters, the president said Obi “ran away” from tackling the problem while he, Tinubu, “confronted the Atlantic Ocean” and “tamed it” for Nigerians. Although Obi was not named, the remarks were unmistakable, linking the erosion issue to the presidential campaign and drawing a sharp contrast between the incumbent’s record and that of his rivals.

Tinubu’s remarks came as part of a broader campaign effort to rally support ahead of the upcoming general election. He praised Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom for confronting local erosion, describing the governor’s work as “stable” and “for you.” By juxtaposing the governor’s actions with what he portrayed as Obi’s inaction, the president sought to portray the APC as the party that delivers tangible results on environmental challenges that affect everyday Nigerians. The erosion problem in Anambra, long‑standing and linked to loss of farmland, displacement of communities and infrastructure damage, has been a recurring point of criticism for the state’s former administration.

Advertisement

In addition to the erosion dig, Tinubu turned his attention to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He questioned Atiku’s loyalty, noting that the veteran politician “once upon a time was a baby of the PDP, became a father of the PDP, and because of a little inconvenience ran away from that party to form a dangerous ADC.” Tinubu framed the move as a lack of leadership and character, asking rhetorically whether such a shift signalled “leadership trait” or “leadership character.” The president suggested that Atiku’s new party could not “put a house in order” and dismissed the ADC as a “mushroom party” lacking the calibre of the APC.

The president’s speech also featured a broader critique of opposition parties, which he claimed do not possess the “character and calibre” of APC members. He invoked former party chairman Umar Ganduje and other senior figures as examples of “people of great dependency, reliability and honesty” who have helped build a “united APC.” By emphasizing unity and experience, Tinubu aimed to reinforce the party’s image as a stable governing force capable of addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, from infrastructure to security.

Political analysts note that Tinubu’s focus on erosion is a strategic move to tap into local grievances that have been amplified by recent floods and landslides in the southeastern region. While the president highlighted his own “Atlantic Ocean” achievement, critics argue that the claim is more rhetorical than substantive, given the limited concrete actions taken to curb coastal erosion along Lagos’s shoreline. Nonetheless, the message resonates with voters who associate visible government projects with competence.

Opposition leaders have responded cautiously. Peter Obi’s campaign has not issued a direct rebuttal to the specific erosion comment, but spokespeople have previously warned that the Anambra erosion crisis requires sustained federal support, not merely political point‑scoring. Atiku Abubakar, meanwhile, reiterated his commitment to national unity and warned that partisan attacks distract from the real issues facing Nigerians, such as unemployment, electricity supply and insecurity.

Environmental NGOs operating in the southeast have welcomed the heightened attention to erosion, urging the government to move beyond rhetoric and allocate resources for comprehensive mitigation programmes. They stress that effective erosion control demands coordinated efforts across federal, state and local levels, including reforestation, drainage improvement and community awareness campaigns. The APC’s promise to “tame” the Atlantic Ocean, they say, must be matched with actionable policies that address both coastal and inland erosion.

As the campaign enters its final stretch, Tinubu’s rally in Akwa Ibom show the president’s reliance on comparative attacks to differentiate his administration from the opposition. By casting the “tinubu erosion” narrative as a measure of competence, he seeks to link his leadership directly to tangible outcomes on the ground. The next major political event will be the APC’s national convention, where the party will finalize its ticket and outline policy priorities ahead of the election. Observers will watch whether the erosion discourse gains traction among voters beyond the southeastern states and whether the opposition can counter the president’s claims with substantive alternatives.