The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will “never become president of Nigeria,” insisting that national leadership has already aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence.
The monarch made the comments during a media session marking his 82nd birthday and 22 years on the throne.
Speaking candidly to journalists, Oba Akiolu described Tinubu as compassionate, visionary, and divinely chosen to lead the country.
He recalled the moment Tinubu presented his certificate of return to him shortly after winning the 2023 presidential election, noting it as a symbolic gesture of trust and shared history.
“The future belongs to God,” the monarch said. “But let me say it plainly: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will never be president of Nigeria. Tinubu is compassionate and visionary.
Who would have believed he would become president? Lagosians and Nigerians should support him to fulfil God’s purpose for the country.”
Oba Akiolu emphasised that his long-standing admiration for Tinubu predates the former Lagos governor’s rise to national power.
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He recounted that on May 23, 2003, the day he received his staff of office, he privately told God that Tinubu would one day become Nigeria’s president. According to him, Tinubu’s achievements in Lagos were a sign of his capability at the federal level.
He described political disagreements as temporary and insisted that politicians rarely harbour permanent enemies. “I am not a politician, but I always tell them that politicians don’t fight; they only disagree,” he noted. “God deliberately chose Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigeria.”
The monarch dismissed rumours of a strained relationship between himself and the presidency, saying he has always prayed for Tinubu’s success. He added that Tinubu would complete his term “by God’s grace.”
The comments come at a time of renewed political tension, as Atiku and his supporters continue to insist that the 2023 election was flawed.
While Atiku remains one of the most persistent figures in presidential politics, Oba Akiolu’s pronouncement reinforces the belief within certain circles that power will not shift in his favour.
Oba Akiolu reiterated that longevity and leadership ultimately rest with God, stating that “everything in life has an end; only God gives longevity.”
His remarks have since circulated widely on social media, drawing reactions from both supporters and critics of the former vice president.
While some interpret the monarch’s statement as a personal prophecy, others view it as a political endorsement aimed at consolidating support for President Tinubu ahead of future electoral cycles.
