KADUNA RALLY: Questions as President Tinubu blames opposition for hunger, poverty in Nigeria
By OUR REPORTER, Kaduna
“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did. They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” Tinubu said in Kaduna.
President Bola Tinubu has blamed his political opponents for the hunger and poverty they have continued to criticise, drawing attention to the question of responsibility for Nigeria’s economic challenges as he formally launched his re-election campaign in Kaduna on Saturday.
Addressing supporters at the Kaduna Township Stadium, Tinubu defended his administration’s policies and urged Nigerians to renew his mandate in the 2027 presidential election.
“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did. They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” the President said.
Tinubu described the opposition as angry and unsuccessful, arguing that it had nothing substantial to offer Nigerians. He promised prosperity, consistency, economic growth, recovery and greater opportunities if re-elected.
However, his remarks come amid persistent economic hardship, rising living costs and concerns over food affordability, issues that have featured prominently in public debate over the performance of his administration.
The President also defended his economic policies, declaring that the era of fuel subsidy was over. He pledged to tackle corruption, invoice falsification and the smuggling of wealth, although he did not provide further details of the specific measures during the remarks cited at the rally.
Tinubu commended governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as regular payment of workers’ salaries and developmental achievements in their respective states.
He urged supporters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote for the APC at all levels in the January 2027 elections.
The Kaduna rally marked the formal launch of the APC’s presidential campaign, with further rallies expected across the country’s six geopolitical zones in the coming months.
Nigeria’s economic difficulties, particularly the cost of food and other essential commodities, are expected to remain major issues in the build-up to the 2027 general elections. Food insecurity has also remained a significant concern, with international agencies warning that millions of Nigerians face difficulties accessing sufficient and nutritious food.
Tinubu’s attribution of the hardship to previous political opponents places responsibility for the economic crisis at the centre of the emerging campaign debate.
As the ruling party seeks another mandate, the opposition is expected to scrutinise the administration’s economic record and present its own proposals for addressing inflation, poverty, unemployment and food insecurity.
For voters, the central question remains whether the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration will deliver sufficient improvements in living conditions before the next general election.
