Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of blaming the opposition for Nigeria’s economic hardship, insisting that the administration must take responsibility for its performance 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 the country.
In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the President’s comments as “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. 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.
Atiku alleged that Tinubu’s administration had worsened the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, arguing that the President could not dismiss concerns about the rising cost of living by blaming political opponents.
He also criticised the planned inauguration of a section of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, claiming that the ceremony reflected the President’s disconnect from the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
“A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon cutting ceremony,” he said.
The former Vice President challenged the administration to explain the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira, which he claimed had weakened from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 against the dollar.
He also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026, accusing the government of presiding over worsening poverty.
Atiku further questioned the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside a separate 2025 budget. He also demanded clarification on what he described 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 figures, disclose what the funds had delivered and identify the beneficiaries.
Atiku also demanded answers over what he described as a $12.4 billion gap in Nigeria’s external accounts in the first half of 2026, alongside the payment of $22.5 million in “other charges” on an Abu Dhabi financing facility.
On security, he accused the administration of failing to adequately address killings, kidnappings and displacement across the country, saying Nigerians were demanding answers about the government’s response to insecurity.
“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 described the 2027 presidential election as a referendum on Tinubu’s record, arguing that voters would assess the administration based on their experiences at home, in markets and in their communities rather than its campaign promises.
“The people will judge your government by the lives they are living, not by the excuses you offer at campaign rallies,” he said.
He concluded by claiming that Nigerians had rejected the administration, adding that their verdict would be reflected in the next presidential election.