Festus Keyamo believes Atiku Abubakar is yet to come to terms with Bola Tinubu’s emergence as president.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has described the former vice-president’s repeated attacks on Tinubu as signs of “political depression”, reigniting the political rivalry between the two camps ahead of the 2027 elections.

Keyamo made the remarks on Friday, alleging that Atiku’s repeated attacks on Tinubu were driven by frustration over the president’s emergence as Nigeria’s leader on his first attempt.

In a statement, the minister argued that the two politicians had pursued presidential ambitions for decades but that Tinubu ultimately secured the position Atiku had sought since 1993.

Keyamo recalled that when Tinubu was governor of Lagos State and Atiku was vice-president, the latter was generally regarded as having a higher political standing.

He attributed Tinubu’s eventual emergence as president to a combination of political strategy, circumstances and divine intervention.

The minister also urged people close to Atiku to offer him support rather than encourage what he described as his recent public outbursts.

According to Keyamo, the former vice-president’s approach could alienate some of his supporters instead of strengthening his political standing ahead of the 2027 general election.

He further invoked Ecclesiastes 9:11 to argue that political success depends on timing and circumstances, adding that Atiku should accept the outcome of the political contest.

Keyamo’s comments come amid escalating exchanges between the two camps as political figures position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has recently criticised Tinubu’s handling of the economy, particularly the rising cost of living and fuel prices.

The former vice-president has argued that the administration’s policies have worsened economic hardship for Nigerians, while calling for measures to reduce the burden on households and businesses.

His criticisms have drawn sharp responses from Tinubu’s allies, who have accused him of using the country’s economic challenges to advance his political ambitions.

Keyamo maintained that Atiku’s remarks reflected personal frustration over Tinubu’s political success, warning that his approach could weaken his standing among opposition supporters.