Backlash of Atiku’s Coalition Visit to Buhari: Tinubu Scrambles to Contain a Political Earthquake

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In what can only be described as a strategic masterstroke or a thunderbolt in Nigeria’s murky political terrain, the unexpected visit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura on Friday has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political establishment. The sight of both men riding together to the Jumaat mosque in the same vehicle was not just symbolic, it was a loud and clear message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: the opposition is not only regrouping but forging an alliance that could dismantle his shaky hold on power ahead of 2027.

The fallout from this dramatic political event is now compelling Tinubu to make desperate and sweeping changes in a bid to retain control of his party and avert what could become an unstoppable coalition of discontent, united by a common goal — unseating him.

1. Cabinet Reshuffle on the Horizon: A Move of Political Survival
Sources within Aso Rock have hinted at an imminent cabinet reshuffle. The reason is not far-fetched. Tinubu is under immense pressure to inject new life into his administration and consolidate power by bringing in politicians with real electoral value. The current cabinet, largely filled with technocrats and loyalists with little grassroots reach, is now being re-evaluated. The goal is clear: replace the weak links with seasoned political gladiators who can command votes and loyalty across geopolitical zones.

The plan includes rewarding disgruntled CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) members, many of whom have been quietly engaging Atiku’s team, with ministerial appointments to prevent mass defections. For Tinubu, this is not about governance anymore. It is about political survival.

2. Tanko Al-Makura to Replace Ganduje: CPC Bloc’s Last Hope
The CPC faction of the APC — once Muhammadu Buhari’s core base — has long felt marginalized since Tinubu took power. Tensions have reached a boiling point, and to pacify the bloc, the President is considering the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as National Chairman of the APC. His potential replacement? Senator Tanko Al-Makura, the first and only CPC Governor in Nigeria.

This move is calculated. Al-Makura still commands deep respect within the northern political landscape, and his appointment is expected to quell the CPC rebellion before it metastasizes into a full-blown defection to Atiku’s camp. Ganduje, already embattled with corruption allegations and declining popularity, may be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

3. Ambassadorial Appointments: Carrots for the Disgruntled
In another desperate measure, the Tinubu administration is reviewing the long-awaited ambassadorial list. The aim is to accommodate CPC loyalists and other core political operatives who feel sidelined. These positions, though largely symbolic, will be used as compensation to calm tensions within the ruling party.

This reconfiguration of foreign postings is not just about diplomacy—it is a political maneuver to buy loyalty with titles and postings in far-flung embassies.

4. Ministerial Appointments for Diplomats: Politics Over Protocol
In an even more audacious twist, some ambassadorial nominees may now be converted to ministers in the new cabinet reshuffle. This unusual crossover is a deliberate political calculation to elevate party stalwarts who still hold sway over key voter blocs. For Tinubu, titles and offices are tools — not of governance, but of political chess.

5. Heads Will Roll: CEOs of MDAs to Be Fired
Several Chief Executives of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) may soon find themselves unemployed. Despite ongoing tenures, those perceived as politically useless or liabilities to Tinubu’s 2027 ambition will be axed. Public criticisms and poor performance records are being used as the justification, but make no mistake — this purge is political.

This action aims to create space for political allies with grassroots structures and loyalty to Tinubu, not necessarily technocrats who deliver results.

6. Tinubu Eyes Kwankwaso: The Power of the Red Cap
Perhaps the boldest move yet in Tinubu’s playbook is the silent courtship of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement. With his cult-like following in the North West, particularly Kano, Kwankwaso remains one of the few individuals who could tilt the balance in 2027.

Tinubu’s emissaries have reportedly offered him a grand bargain: rejoin the APC and nominate ministers, ambassadors, and agency heads. In return, he could be positioned as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027 — a move that would sideline Vice President Kashim Shettima and spark a fresh intra-party war.

The goal? Neutralize the Atiku-Buhari coalition with an equally fearsome northern political titan. It is a gamble, but one Tinubu appears willing to take.

7. Kano Emirate Crisis: A Political Bargaining Chip
To sweeten the deal for Kwankwaso, the federal government is reportedly weighing in on the long-running Kano Emirate tussle. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SLS), a known Kwankwaso ally, may be reinstated as Emir, while the current Emir Aminu Ado Bayero could be persuaded to resign quietly and offered an ambassadorial post in Qatar, Kuwait, or Saudi Arabia.

This potential realignment in the traditional institution is more than cultural—it is deeply political. By restoring SLS, Tinubu hopes to earn Kwankwaso’s loyalty and, by extension, the votes of millions of Kano citizens.

8. Retired Generals Reunite: A New Power Bloc Emerging
Perhaps most disturbing to the presidency was the clandestine meeting of retired military rulers — Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Theophilus Danjuma, and Aliyu Gusau — held on April 12, 2025. Atiku and other high-level political operatives were said to have attended.

Though shrouded in secrecy, sources say the retired generals discussed forming a new political front to restore national unity and stability. This is no ordinary meeting. When the military godfathers of Nigeria converge, it is usually a precursor to seismic political shifts.

Their goal? To craft a formidable alliance capable of taking on Tinubu in 2027 — not just for power, but for the survival of democracy in a country gasping under the weight of economic chaos and political polarization.

9. PMB Flees to the UK: Silence as a Political Statement
In the aftermath of the Atiku visit, Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly jetted out to the United Kingdom on “private engagements.” But insiders say the timing is not coincidental. The former president’s departure is a tactical withdrawal, designed to reduce political temperature and avoid accusations of fueling anti-Tinubu sentiment.

However, the damage has been done. Buhari’s silence speaks volumes. His body language suggests endorsement, or at least tolerance, of Atiku’s overtures, sending a chilling signal to Tinubu that the CPC patriarch may no longer be in his corner.

A Nation on the Brink of Another Political Earthquake

The backlash from Atiku’s visit to Buhari is more than a media spectacle. It is a political tsunami that has shaken the foundation of Tinubu’s presidency. With the CPC bloc restless, the Kwankwasiyya movement being courted, and the retired military elite reactivating their networks, Tinubu now finds himself encircled.

He may reshuffle the cabinet, sack agency heads, appease political warlords, and even sacrifice his vice president, but the writing is on the wall: Nigeria is headed for another bruising political battle in 2027.

And for the first time since his ascension to Aso Rock, Tinubu is not in full control of the narrative. The backlash of Atiku’s coalition visit to Buhari is not just a political drama, it is a warning shot of what lies ahead.