‘You caused Nigerians hunger, poverty, now dodging responsibility,’ Atiku fires back at Tinubu, APC
MAIN POINTS:
*Tinubu commissioning of unfinished Abuja-Kaduna Expressway questioned
*As Atiku asks president, APC to explain ₦7.13 trillion recorded under energy security in 2024
*Questions ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline-related spending, $12.4 billion gap reportedly flagged in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026
By KEMI KASUMU
“You cannot govern for three years, make life harder, and then blame others for describing the hardship,” he said. “You asked who created the hunger. Nigerians are asking what you have done to end it.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of evading responsibility for Nigeria’s economic hardship after the President blamed opposition politicians for hunger and poverty.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, described Tinubu’s remarks as a “delusional, shameless attempt” to escape responsibility for the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku challenged the President to account for his administration’s economic policies and performance.
“Mr President, blaming the opposition for hunger is either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia,” Atiku said.
He argued that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had governed Nigeria for eight years before Tinubu assumed office, insisting that Nigerians knew which party had been in power during the period.
Atiku questioned the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy, the depreciation of the naira, rising poverty and government spending, demanding explanations from the administration.
He also criticised Tinubu over the reported commissioning of the unfinished Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, arguing that a speech or ribbon-cutting ceremony could not substitute for completing public infrastructure projects.
The ADC candidate further raised questions about reported government expenditure, including ₦7.13 trillion recorded under energy security in 2024, ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline-related spending and a $12.4 billion gap reportedly flagged in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026.
He also questioned a reported $22.5 million in “other charges” associated with an Abu Dhabi financing facility, calling for transparency over public spending.
Atiku linked the country’s economic difficulties to broader concerns about insecurity, including killings, kidnappings and the displacement of communities.
“You cannot govern for three years, make life harder, and then blame others for describing the hardship,” he said.
“You asked who created the hunger. Nigerians are asking what you have done to end it.”
He described the 2027 presidential election as a referendum on Tinubu’s record, arguing that voters would assess the administration based on their experiences in homes, markets and communities.
The statement followed Tinubu’s remarks at the APC’s presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday, where the President accused his political opponents of creating the hunger and poverty they now criticise.
