Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, labelling it one of Nigeria’s most “incompetent, disconnected, and anti-people” governments since the return to democracy.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Atiku accused the Tinubu government of worsening hardship, deepening inequality, and fueling a ballooning debt crisis. He also announced the formation of a united opposition coalition aimed at holding the government accountable and “rescuing Nigeria” from what he called a dangerous slide into authoritarianism.
According to Atiku, the current administration has, within just two years, pushed the country into deeper poverty and elevated elite privilege at the expense of ordinary citizens. “No previous administration has inflicted this level of hardship on the masses while showing such disregard for transparency and responsible leadership,” he said.
The former Vice President highlighted alarming statistics, including Nigeria’s ranking as 18th on the 2024 Global Hunger Index and its overtaking of war-torn Sudan in child malnutrition rates. He described these figures as a “national shame.”
He criticized recent economic policies, such as the 75% hike in fees by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and increased tuition at public universities, which he argued disproportionately affect poor families.
“We are witnessing the rise of a class-based society, where the rich enjoy VIP services while the poor are left to struggle,” Atiku said.
He further slammed the administration’s fiscal management, alleging that Nigeria’s public debt has surged from ₦49 trillion in 2023 to ₦144 trillion within two years—a 150% increase. He accused the Tinubu government of using loans to fund budgets that favor elites and to cushion the fallout of the fuel subsidy removal.
Atiku warned that opposition parties would no longer stay silent, vowing to resist any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. “We are here to rescue Nigeria,” he declared. “And we will not stop until that goal is achieved.”
The statement marks a significant escalation in opposition efforts, as Atiku and allied forces ramp up preparations to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
