Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s government, accusing it of indifference to the worsening plight of Nigerians as the nation marked its 65th Independence anniversary.
In a statement shared on X on Wednesday, Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate, said millions of citizens were “reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland” despite Nigeria’s vast human and natural resources.
“Hunger is killing Nigerians, bandits are massacring communities, yet President Tinubu and his cabinet stand by, unmoved and uncaring,” Atiku charged.
The former vice-president argued that any government worthy of its mandate must prioritize the security and welfare of its people, insisting Tinubu’s administration had failed in that duty.
He urged Nigerians not to lose faith in democracy, stressing that the ballot box remained their only tool to correct bad governance.
“Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people,” Atiku said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence in 1960, Atiku lamented the nation’s underwhelming progress, describing it as a “giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay.”
He blamed decades of misrule and wasteful governance for the country’s struggles but expressed hope that with visionary leadership, Nigeria could still reclaim its rightful place globally.
Atiku formally left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in July 2025, citing irreconcilable differences.
He has since aligned himself with a coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Since assuming office in May 2023, President
Tinubu has implemented sweeping economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates.
While the policies have triggered inflation and widespread hardship, the government maintains they are necessary foundations for long-term stability and growth.
