Tinubu Taunts Obi: I Tamed the Atlantic Ocean, You Ran from Erosion in Anambra

President Bola Tinubu has taken a swipe at former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, accusing him of failing to confront the state’s erosion crisis while boasting that he tackled the threat posed by the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos.

Tinubu made the remarks on Friday during an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.

Referring to Obi, who is seeking the presidency on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Tinubu said the former governor could not effectively confront the erosion menace during his time in office.

“In Anambra State, he could not confront erosion. I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confronted the Atlantic Ocean,” the President declared.

Tinubu also praised Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno for his efforts to address erosion, using the comparison to question Obi’s leadership credentials.

He further criticised Obi’s movement between political parties, questioning whether leaving a party over internal disagreements demonstrated the political stability and leadership qualities required of a president.

The President urged voters to support his administration, saying Nigeria needed leaders prepared to confront difficult challenges rather than avoid them.

Tinubu’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the environmental challenges facing Anambra State and the coastal protection initiatives in Lagos.

Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014, while Tinubu served as Lagos governor from 1999 to 2007. Tinubu’s reference to confronting the Atlantic Ocean is associated with the coastal protection and land reclamation vision that later developed into Eko Atlantic City, a project advanced through private-sector investment and successive administrations.

Anambra’s erosion crisis, meanwhile, has remained a major environmental challenge, affecting communities, roads, homes and agricultural land.

The exchange adds to the growing political criticism between leading figures positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Obi had not publicly responded to the latest remarks at the time of reporting.