Drama Erupts as Fani-Kayode Fires at Atiku Over Alleged Age Discrepancy

According to a report by Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, April 16, 2026, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent remarks describing former President Goodluck Jonathan as a “young man.” The reaction came through a post shared on social media platform X, where Fani-Kayode expressed disagreement with Atiku’s comments and questioned the consistency of his political statements.

The exchange adds to ongoing political debates involving prominent figures in Nigeria’s political space.

Fani-Kayode’s response focused on what he described as inconsistencies in Atiku’s public statements, particularly those relating to respect for seniority and leadership conduct.

He argued that Atiku’s comments appeared contradictory when compared to his past political engagements and interactions with other senior political figures.

According to him, public statements made by political leaders should reflect consistency, especially when addressing matters of respect, tradition, and governance.

Atiku had earlier been quoted as saying that he would not respond to the Vice President Kashim Shettima, stating that his decision was based on age difference, experience, and cultural expectations regarding respect for elders.

He emphasized that he considered it inappropriate to engage in exchanges that, in his view, did not align with traditional values.

This position formed part of the context that Fani-Kayode reacted to in his public statement.

In his response, Fani-Kayode questioned the reasoning behind Atiku’s stance, suggesting that it did not align with previous political actions taken by the former vice president in earlier years.

He pointed to instances where Atiku had participated in political disagreements with senior figures, arguing that such actions appeared inconsistent with his current position on respect and tradition.

His remarks were framed as a critique of what he described as selective application of principles in political communication.

He said, “I am astounded by the sheer arrogance of your words. This is all the more so given the fact that you are only 11 years older than him if reports about your age are to be believed.”