Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, Reno Omokri, has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s assertion that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old.
Omokri also urged veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu to publicly authenticate a photograph reportedly taken with Tinubu in London in 1996.
The development followed comments made by Atiku during a BBC interview released on Friday. The former vice president alleged that Tinubu is 90 years old and maintained that he had proof which he would be prepared to produce in court.
While discussing his decision to contest the 2027 presidential election, Atiku said he was physically fit and capable of serving the country.
He stated that having a president who, according to his claim, was 90 and unwell was one reason he believed Nigerians should consider his candidacy.
However, when the interviewer pointed out that Tinubu’s publicly known age was below 90, Atiku stood by his position and said he possessed evidence to substantiate it.
Responding to the allegation, Omokri published a photograph he said featured Tinubu and Momodu together in London three decades ago.
According to him, the picture provided an opportunity to examine the claim that Tinubu was already 60 years old at the time.
Omokri explained that if Tinubu were 90 in 2026, he would have been 60 in 1996, when the photograph was allegedly taken.
He therefore asked Nigerians and members of the international community to study the image and decide whether Tinubu appeared to be a man in his sixties at the time.
The former presidential aide further called on Momodu to confirm the circumstances surrounding the photograph, including its authenticity, location and date.
Omokri said Momodu was particularly qualified to address the matter because he was reportedly present when the picture was taken.
He also referred to Momodu’s earlier accounts of Tinubu’s relationship with him, particularly claims that the President supported him during his period of exile under the military government of the late General Sani Abacha.
According to Omokri, Momodu remained entitled to back whichever political aspirant he preferred ahead of the 2027 election.
However, he questioned whether it was appropriate for Momodu to remain silent while allegations were being made about the age and health of a former associate whom he had previously described as a friend and supporter.
Omokri subsequently appealed to politicians to make the 2027 campaign about policies and solutions to Nigeria’s problems rather than personal attacks.
He argued that discussions surrounding leadership should centre on issues such as insecurity, the economy and governance, instead of what he termed unnecessary attempts to ridicule political figures because of their age.
Tinubu’s official records state that he was born on March 29, 1952, which makes him 74 years old in 2026. His age and academic history have, however, remained subjects of public debate over the years.
Atiku, meanwhile, has continued to defend his decision to seek the presidency under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The former vice president insisted that he remained healthy, energetic and capable of leading the country.
He also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, arguing that deficiencies in personnel and equipment had affected Nigeria’s ability to combat insurgency effectively.
Atiku pledged that, if elected president in 2027, his government would prioritise the fight against terrorism and insecurity, expressing confidence that noticeable progress could be achieved within his first year in office.
