Tinubu’s Age: Omokri Challenges Atiku With 1996 Photo

Reno Omokri, Ambassador-designate of Nigeria to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claim that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old, presenting a photograph purportedly taken with the President in London in 1996.

Omokri, in a statement on Friday, also challenged journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, to authenticate the photograph, which he said showed Momodu with Tinubu in London 30 years ago.

His reaction followed an interview granted by Atiku to the BBC, in which the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 election claimed that Tinubu was 90 years old and said he had evidence to prove the allegation in court.

Atiku had said, “I have a president who is 90 years old now, and who is sick, and I am healthy, I am strong, so why would I not make my services available to my fellow countrymen?”

When the interviewer pointed out that Tinubu was not yet 90, Atiku replied, “I have evidence that he is, and I will present it in court.”

Reacting, Omokri shared the photograph and argued that it raised questions about Atiku’s claim.

He said, “This is a photo of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dele Momodu taken in London in 1996. If Asiwaju is indeed 90 years old, as recently alleged, then Dele Momodu must be in his eighties.

“Look at the photo yourself. I have not altered it in any way. Dele Momodu is alive to testify to the authenticity of this photograph and the date and place where it was taken.”

Omokri argued that if Tinubu were 90 in 2026, he would have been 60 when the photograph was allegedly taken.

He asked, “Does His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, look like a sixty-year-old in this photo?”

Omokri also urged Momodu to speak on the authenticity of the photograph, recalling the publisher’s previous comments about Tinubu’s support for him while he was in exile during the regime of the late military dictator, Sani Abacha.

“I remind Dele Momodu that, by his own admission, Asiwaju was good to him when he was in exile from the Abacha regime,” he said.

Omokri added that Momodu was free to support any candidate ahead of the 2027 election but questioned whether he should remain silent over allegations concerning the President’s age and health.

He further urged politicians to focus their campaigns on issues affecting Nigerians rather than what he described as “age-shaming” political opponents.

“Perhaps we can raise the bar for this election by raising issues germane to the Nigerian people and brainstorming ideas to resolve the challenges plaguing our polity,” he said.

Tinubu, according to his publicly stated date of birth, was born on March 29, 1952, making him 74.

Meanwhile, Atiku, who recently emerged as the ADC presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election, said he remained physically fit and constitutionally entitled to contest the presidency.

He said, “Why should you question me on my right? It is my constitutional right. I am strong, I am healthy, I am agile.”

The former vice president also cited his experience and competence as reasons he believed he was qualified to lead Nigeria.

He criticised the Federal Government over insecurity, arguing that inadequate manpower and equipment had weakened the country’s security architecture.

Atiku promised that, if elected in 2027, his administration would tackle insurgency and insecurity within its first year in office.

“I believe within one year they should be able to see that. And believe me, within one year, we can control this insurgency and insecurity that is all over the place,” he said.