Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to shift responsibility for Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship to the opposition, saying the administration must account for its record ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, was reacting to Tinubu’s remark 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 comment as “either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia.”
He said the APC had governed Nigeria for eight years before Tinubu assumed office, adding that the current administration had spent another three and a half years in power. According to him, Nigerians were fully aware of which party had been in government and would not accept attempts to blame hardship on opposition politicians.
“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,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President accused the Tinubu administration of deepening the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians, arguing that rising food prices, inflation and unemployment could not be dismissed by blaming political opponents.
Atiku also criticised the planned inauguration of a section of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, saying the ceremony reflected the government’s disconnect from the daily struggles of citizens. He argued that infrastructure projects alone could not address the cost-of-living crisis.
“A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon-cutting ceremony,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate challenged the administration to explain the removal of petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira, which he said had fallen from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 against the United States dollar.
He further 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 rising poverty and failing to provide adequate relief for vulnerable households.
Atiku also questioned the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside the approval of a separate 2025 budget. He alleged that ₦7.13 trillion was recorded under “energy security” in 2024, while ₦11.2 trillion was spent on NNPC pipeline-related projects, and demanded transparency over how the funds were utilised.
The former Vice President said Nigerians deserved answers on the management of public resources, particularly at a time when many families could no longer afford basic necessities.
He maintained that the opposition would continue to hold the government accountable and present an alternative to what he described as failed economic policies.
Atiku’s statement is the latest in a series of exchanges between the opposition and the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as both sides intensify campaigns over the economy, insecurity and the welfare of Nigerians.