Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu for blaming the opposition for hunger and poverty in Nigeria, insisting that the administration must take responsibility for the country’s economic challenges ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was reacting to Tinubu’s remarks at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday, where the President accused the opposition of creating hunger and poverty.
In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President described Tinubu’s comments as either “delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia.”
Atiku argued that the APC had been in power for several years and could not reasonably blame opposition parties for economic hardship experienced under its administration.
“The APC governed Nigeria for eight years before you took office. You have added another three and a half years. Nigerians know who has been in power, and hardship did not begin when the opposition started talking about it. Stop insulting their intelligence and answer for your record,” he said.
He accused the Tinubu administration of worsening the economic situation, arguing that Nigerians were struggling with the rising cost of living and deserved answers rather than political excuses.
The ADC presidential candidate also faulted the President’s planned inauguration of a section of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, describing the ceremony as disconnected from the daily realities of ordinary Nigerians.
“A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon cutting ceremony,” Atiku said.
He further challenged the Federal Government to account for the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira, which he said had fallen from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 against the dollar.
Atiku also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026, using the projection to question the administration’s handling of the economy.
Beyond the cost-of-living crisis, the former Vice President raised questions about federal budget implementation and public expenditure.
He queried the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside a separate 2025 budget, as well as figures he cited as ₦7.13 trillion recorded under “energy security” in 2024 and ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline-related spending.
He called on the government to explain the expenditure, disclose the projects and services delivered, and identify the beneficiaries of the funds.
Atiku also demanded clarification over what he described as a $12.4 billion gap in Nigeria’s external accounts in the first half of 2026 and a reported $22.5 million payment in “other charges” associated with an Abu Dhabi financing facility.
On security, he accused the administration of failing to adequately address killings, kidnappings and displacement across the country, insisting that Nigerians were entitled to question the government’s response to the persistent threats.
“You cannot govern for three years, make life harder, and then blame others for describing the hardship. You asked who created the hunger. Nigerians are asking what you have done to end it,” he said.
Atiku maintained that the 2027 presidential election would serve as a referendum on Tinubu’s performance, arguing that voters would assess the administration based on their economic circumstances and experiences in their communities.
“The people will judge your government by the lives they are living, not by the excuses you offer at campaign rallies,” he added.
