Social media activist, VeryDarkMan, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s most politically astute leader, arguing that his ability to turn unfolding events into electoral advantages sets him apart from other opposition figures.

VDM, in a viral video, said Tinubu’s political strength lay less in his economic policies than in his ability to identify opportunities, mobilise public sentiment and convert political developments into pressure against opponents.

He cited the arrest and detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as an example of an incident Tinubu would have exploited for political gains if he were currently in opposition.

According to the activist, Tinubu would have used the development to mobilise support across Northern Nigeria by presenting El-Rufai’s detention as an issue affecting the region and its people.

VDM argued that such a strategy could have involved a tour of Northern states, public rallies and campaigns demanding El-Rufai’s release, thereby turning the controversy into a broader political movement against the incumbent government.

He maintained that Tinubu’s approach to political mobilisation was a quality he believed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had not demonstrated to the same degree.

To illustrate his argument, VDM recalled the opposition campaign against former President Goodluck Jonathan, particularly the mobilisation that followed the controversy over fuel price increases and the campaign slogan, “Jonathan must go!”

He said Tinubu had demonstrated an exceptional capacity to bring different groups together and use public grievances to build political momentum.

The activist’s assessment centred on Tinubu’s ability to exploit political openings rather than an endorsement of the administration’s economic performance or policy direction.

His comments have drawn attention to the role of political communication, strategic mobilisation and public sentiment in shaping electoral contests ahead of the 2027 general election.

The remarks were reported by Northern Nigeria Hub.