Atiku’s Aide Mocks Tinubu Over Moses and Musa Remark, Says President Should Return to School

Paul Ibe, media aide to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his comments on fuel subsidy removal, insisting that Atiku was right to advise the President to return to school.

Ibe made the remarks on Tuesday while reacting to Tinubu’s declaration that Nigeria would not return to the era of fuel subsidies.

Speaking on the issue, Tinubu drew a biblical and Quranic comparison, saying: “When Moses and Musa left Egypt, they faced a challenge, and the Red Sea parted and gave way.”

Reacting in a post on X, Ibe questioned the President’s reference to Moses and Musa as though they were two different people.

“Atiku Abubakar was correct when he told President Bola Tinubu to return to school. The President has just given another strong reason to seriously think about that advice right away,” Ibe wrote.

He argued that Moses, known as Musa in the Quran, refers to the same prophet, adding that the two names reflect different languages and religious traditions rather than separate individuals.

“Haba, Professor Tinubu! Which Moses and which Musa? Were they travelling together? Was Moses leading the Christian group while Musa was leading the Muslim group? Were they using different passports when they crossed the Egyptian border? Mr President, Moses in the Bible is Musa in the Qur’an,” he said.

Ibe further stated that there was no separate journey involving two prophets, insisting that the biblical Moses and Quranic Musa refer to the same person associated with the Israelites’ departure from Egypt.

He also questioned the President’s economic judgment, linking his criticism of the religious reference to Tinubu’s position on fuel subsidy removal.

“And this is the President who claims he has been deeply thinking about Nigeria’s economy?” Ibe added.

The ADC aide concluded that Nigerians were being asked to endure economic hardship in pursuit of eventual success, while accusing the President of adding to public confusion.

Tinubu has maintained that Nigeria will not return to the fuel subsidy regime, a policy shift that continues to feature prominently in debates over the country’s economy and the cost of living.

Ibe’s comments add to the political criticism surrounding the President’s remarks, with the ADC figure using the Moses-and-Musa reference to renew questions about Tinubu’s leadership and economic decisions.