Daud Olatunji
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his claim that opposition politicians were responsible for hunger and poverty in Nigeria, accusing the President of evading responsibility for the economic hardship confronting citizens.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, described the President’s remarks as “delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia”, insisting that the ruling All Progressives Congress must account for its policies and their impact on Nigerians.
Tinubu had blamed opposition politicians for the country’s economic difficulties while speaking on Saturday at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna, where he said his administration was working to eradicate hunger and poverty.
“I hear my opponent talking about hunger, poverty. Who created it? They did! They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” the President said.
However, Atiku, in a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, argued that the APC could not absolve itself of responsibility after years in power at the federal level.
According to him, Nigerians are entitled to demand explanations from the administration over the rising cost of living, worsening economic pressures, insecurity and questions surrounding public expenditure.
“Mr President, blaming the opposition for hunger is either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia. The APC governed Nigeria for eight years before you took office. You have added another three and a half years,” the statement quoted Atiku as saying.
He added that Nigerians were familiar with the party that had controlled the Federal Government and should not be made to accept what he described as attempts to shift responsibility for the country’s economic challenges.
“The hardship your administration has brought upon Nigerians is real. You cannot deny it by blaming others,” Atiku said.
The former vice-president challenged Tinubu to explain the consequences of the administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira.
He questioned the sharp decline in the value of the naira against the dollar, asking the President to account for the economic decisions taken under his administration.
“Which administration removed the petrol subsidy and watched the naira fall from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 to the dollar?” he asked.
Atiku also cited a World Bank estimate, which he said projected that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026, as he challenged the government to address the scale of economic hardship.
He further questioned the Federal Government’s budgetary practices, including the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside the operation of a separate 2025 budget.
The ADC chieftain also demanded explanations over public expenditure, specifically citing ₦7.13tn recorded under “energy security” in 2024 and ₦11.2tn in pipeline-related spending by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Atiku said Nigerians deserved to know how the funds were spent, who benefited from the expenditure and what tangible results were achieved.
“Nigerians deserve to know who received these sums and what was delivered,” he said.
Atiku also raised questions about what he described as a $12.4bn gap in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026.
He queried the reported payment of $22.5m in “other charges” relating to the Abu Dhabi financing facility, insisting that the government owed Nigerians explanations on issues involving public funds.
The former vice-president extended his criticism to the country’s security challenges, citing persistent killings, kidnappings and the displacement of residents in affected communities.
He argued that the government should address these concerns rather than blame political opponents for highlighting the difficulties confronting citizens.
“These are the questions Nigerians are asking while your government blames the opposition,” he said.
Atiku also faulted Tinubu’s decision to commission the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from a stadium, describing the move as disconnected from the practical concerns of Nigerians.
He argued that a public ceremony could not substitute for the completion of infrastructure projects, insisting that the government should be judged by what it delivers.
“A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon-cutting ceremony,” he said.
The former vice-president maintained that the administration should be held accountable for its record on the economy, infrastructure and security.
He said the 2027 presidential election would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the government’s performance against their lived experiences.
“The people will judge your government by the lives they are living, not by the excuses you offer at campaign rallies,” Atiku said.
Tinubu’s remarks and Atiku’s response have brought the rival political camps into a fresh exchange over responsibility for Nigeria’s economic difficulties ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
'