Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of evading responsibility for Nigeria’s economic hardship, describing his claim that the opposition created hunger and poverty as “delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia.”
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, was reacting to Tinubu’s remarks at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday, October 24, where the President blamed opposition parties for the hunger and poverty confronting Nigerians.
Addressing party supporters at the Kaduna Township Stadium, Tinubu said his administration was working to address problems allegedly created by his political opponents.
“I have an argument, I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did! They created hunger, they created poverty, we are trying to eradicate it,” the President said.
Tinubu also defended his administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the reform had curbed corruption associated with the subsidy regime and reduced incentives for fuel smuggling.
However, Atiku, in a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, rejected the President’s position, insisting that the administration must take responsibility for the consequences of its policies.
“Mr President, blaming the opposition for hunger is either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia,” Atiku said.
“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.”
The former Vice President argued that the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira had contributed to the rising cost of living, placing additional pressure on households and businesses.
He challenged Tinubu to explain the naira’s depreciation from about ₦471 to the dollar before his administration to approximately ₦1,329, questioning the government’s handling of the economic consequences of its reforms.
Atiku also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026, arguing that the projection raised serious questions about the administration’s economic policies.
He further questioned government spending, citing the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside a separate 2025 budget, as well as expenditure on energy security and pipeline operations by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
According to Atiku, Nigerians deserve clear explanations of how public funds have been spent, the projects delivered and the beneficiaries of the expenditure.
The ADC presidential candidate also criticised the planned commissioning of a section of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, arguing that official ceremonies should not be mistaken for the completion of infrastructure projects.
“A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon cutting ceremony,” he said.
On security, Atiku faulted the administration’s response to persistent killings, kidnappings and the displacement of communities, arguing that the government should address these challenges rather than dismiss criticism as political opposition.
“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.
The exchange comes as Tinubu formally launched his re-election campaign ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election, with economic hardship and insecurity expected to feature prominently in the contest.
While the Tinubu administration has defended its economic reforms as necessary to strengthen public finances, boost foreign reserves and restore investor confidence, critics have pointed to their impact on petrol prices, transportation costs, food prices and household purchasing power.
Atiku, who contested against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, said the 2027 poll would give Nigerians an opportunity to assess the President’s performance.
“The people will judge your government by the lives they are living, not by the excuses you offer at campaign rallies,” he said.
He described the election as a referendum on Tinubu’s record, insisting that voters would judge the administration by their everyday experiences in their homes, markets and communities.