Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of blaming the opposition for Nigeria’s economic hardship. He described the claim as an attempt to evade responsibility for his administration’s policies.
Tinubu had blamed his political opponents for hunger and poverty on Saturday. He spoke during the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.
“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, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, said Nigerians had the right to demand answers from the APC-led government. He cited rising living costs, poverty, insecurity and concerns about public spending.
The exchange adds to the growing political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Related coverage includes Remi Tinubu’s Call for Nigerians to Re-elect Her Husband.
Atiku Says APC Must Answer for Economic Hardship
In a statement issued on Saturday, ADC Presidential Campaign Council Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, conveyed Atiku’s response.
Atiku argued that Tinubu could not blame the opposition after years of APC rule at the federal level.
“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 him as saying.
He added that Nigerians knew which party had controlled the federal government. According to Atiku, the current hardship did not begin when opposition figures started speaking about it.
“Stop insulting their intelligence and answer for your record,” he said.
Atiku maintained that government policies had contributed to the difficulties facing households and businesses. He insisted that the administration should accept responsibility rather than blame political opponents.
For more on the political contest, read NDC’s Planned Inauguration of Its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
ADC Candidate Questions Abuja-Kaduna Expressway Commissioning
Atiku also criticised Tinubu’s decision to commission the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from a stadium.
He argued that the ceremony did not address concerns about the road’s completion status.
“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.
The former vice president used the issue to question the administration’s approach to public infrastructure and accountability.
Infrastructure delivery has remained a prominent issue in national political discussions. Readers can also see Enugu Government’s Efforts to Sustain Development Gains for related development coverage.
Atiku Challenges Tinubu Over Fuel Subsidy Removal
The ADC presidential candidate also questioned the effects of the administration’s economic policies.
He specifically cited the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira. Atiku asked the government to explain how these measures had affected Nigerians.
“Which administration removed the petrol subsidy and watched the naira fall from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 to the dollar?” he asked.
He also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would live below the national poverty line in 2026.
Atiku argued that the administration should explain its record on living costs and poverty. His comments reflect the wider political dispute over the impact of economic reforms.
For related economic reporting, see Petrol Price Rises in Abuja After Dangote Raises Gantry Rate to ₦1,350 and RMAFC’s Search for Chinese Investment.
Former Vice President Demands Answers on Public Spending
Atiku further raised questions about federal budgeting and public expenditure.
He cited the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 and the operation of a separate 2025 budget. He also questioned spending recorded under energy security and pipeline-related activities.
According to Atiku, the government recorded ₦7.13 trillion under “energy security” in 2024. He also referred to ₦11.2 trillion in pipeline-related spending by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The former vice president demanded explanations about the beneficiaries and the results of the expenditure.
“Nigerians deserve to know who received these sums and what was delivered,” he said.
The figures and allegations formed part of Atiku’s criticism of the administration’s financial management. They were presented in his statement and were not independently verified in the account provided.
For another report involving the national oil company, read NNPC’s Response After an Oil Tanker Was Caught With Cannabis.
Atiku Raises Questions Over External Accounts
Atiku also questioned what he described as a $12.4 billion gap in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026.
He further sought an explanation for $22.5 million reportedly paid in “other charges” on the Abu Dhabi financing facility.
The former vice president argued that Nigerians deserved greater transparency over the country’s finances. He linked the questions to the broader need for accountability in government spending.
His statement did not resolve the issues he raised. Instead, it challenged the administration to provide explanations and clarify the figures.
Readers can follow other reports on economic and investment developments through NACCIMA’s Support for Enugu’s ₦30bn Economic Ambition.
ADC Candidate Links Economic Hardship to Insecurity
Atiku also linked the country’s economic concerns to its security situation.
He asked the Tinubu administration to account for persistent killings, kidnappings and displacement in communities across Nigeria.
“These are the questions Nigerians are asking while your government blames the opposition,” he said.
The former vice president argued that Nigerians expected the government to address both economic hardship and insecurity. He maintained that the administration should be judged by its performance rather than its explanations.
Security remains a major concern in several parts of the country. Related reporting includes Peter Obi’s Visit to Attack Victims in Jos and Mangu and Tension After Peter Obi’s Convoy Was Reportedly Prevented From Passing in Benue.
Atiku Says 2027 Election Will Test Tinubu’s Record
Atiku maintained that the administration could not govern for years and then blame others for describing the hardship.
“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.
He added that the 2027 presidential election would serve as a referendum on Tinubu’s record.
“Nigerians have felt the cost of your leadership in their homes, markets and communities,” Atiku said.
The exchange highlights the competing arguments likely to shape political debate ahead of the next presidential election. While Tinubu attributed hunger and poverty to the opposition, Atiku demanded that the government account for its policies and results.
Other related reports include Sowore’s Pledges on Wages and 24-Hour Electricity and Adebayo’s Call for Nigerian Youths to Take Politics Beyond Social Media.
