Atiku Accuses Tinubu Of Dodging Responsibility For Nigeria’s Economic Hardship

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu for blaming the opposition for hunger and poverty in Nigeria, describing the claim as an attempt to evade responsibility for his administration’s economic policies.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted after Tinubu accused opposition politicians of being responsible for the country’s economic difficulties during the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday.

“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.

In a statement released on Saturday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that Nigerians had every right to demand accountability from the ruling party over the rising cost of living, insecurity, poverty and government spending.

He maintained that the APC had controlled the federal government for about 11 years, including the period before Tinubu assumed office.

“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.

“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 statement quoted him as saying.

Atiku insisted that the economic difficulties affecting Nigerian households and businesses were linked to government policies and could not be dismissed by blaming political opponents.

“The hardship your administration has brought upon Nigerians is real. You cannot deny it by blaming others,” he said.

The former vice president also criticised Tinubu’s decision to commission the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from a stadium, arguing that the move raised questions about the actual state of the project.

“Your decision to commission the unfinished Abuja to Kaduna Expressway from inside a stadium shows how far removed you are from the daily reality of Nigerians. A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon-cutting ceremony,” he said.

Atiku further challenged the President to explain the impact of his administration’s economic decisions, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira.

“Which administration removed the petrol subsidy and watched the naira fall from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 to the dollar?” Atiku asked.

He also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026.

Atiku Demands Explanation For Government Spending

The ADC presidential candidate raised concerns about federal budgeting and public expenditure, including the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 and spending recorded under energy security.

He questioned the reported ₦7.13tn expenditure under “energy security” in 2024, alongside ₦11.2tn in pipeline-related spending by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

“Nigerians deserve to know who received these sums and what was delivered,” he said.

Atiku also demanded clarification over what he described as a $12.4bn gap in Nigeria’s external accounts during the first half of 2026 and a payment of $22.5m listed as “other charges” under the Abu Dhabi financing facility.

Beyond economic concerns, he linked the country’s financial difficulties to the worsening security situation, asking the Federal Government to account for persistent killings, kidnappings and the displacement of residents in several communities.

“These are the questions Nigerians are asking while your government blames the opposition,” he said.

2027 Election Will Test Tinubu’s Record — Atiku

Atiku maintained that the Tinubu administration should be assessed based on its achievements and the impact of its policies on Nigerians rather than its explanations for the country’s challenges.

“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.

“The 2027 presidential election will be a referendum on your record. Nigerians have felt the cost of your leadership in their homes, markets and communities,” he added.

The exchange highlights the growing political dispute over responsibility for Nigeria’s economic challenges as parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.