The former vice president says Tinubu cannot rely on governors, ministers and political defectors to defend his record, insisting that Nigerians deserve answers on rising living costs, declining purchasing power and unemployment before deciding whether to renew his mandate.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his reported absence from campaign rallies in some states, insisting that the president must personally account for his administration’s performance before asking Nigerians for another four-year mandate.

Atiku accused Tinubu of attempting to rely on governors, ministers and political allies to defend his record while millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with economic hardship, rising food prices, shrinking purchasing power and difficulties accessing basic necessities.

The former vice president’s position was conveyed in a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.

Atiku argued that Tinubu, having spent three and a half years in office, should face voters and explain what his administration has achieved before seeking another term.

He questioned the president’s reported suggestion that he might miss some campaign rallies because of the demands of governing the country, arguing that the same sense of urgency should have been demonstrated when Nigerians were struggling with the rising cost of living.

“Tinubu says he may miss campaign rallies because Nigeria needs his attention. Where was that urgency when Nigerians pleaded for relief?” Atiku asked.

He painted a grim picture of the economic pressures confronting households, saying families had been forced to reduce their meals, delay medical treatment and watch their earnings lose value as the cost of living continued to rise.

According to Atiku, Nigerians deserve direct explanations from the president on the impact of his policies, particularly on food affordability, healthcare costs and employment opportunities for young people.

He challenged Tinubu to explain what his government had done to make essential food items more affordable, why pensioners were struggling to pay for medicines and why many young Nigerians remained unable to secure decent jobs despite years of education and hard work.

The former vice president also questioned what he described as the administration’s willingness to prioritise the concerns of foreign creditors and investors while Nigerians continued to face mounting financial pressures.

“Tinubu says American creditors cannot wait. Nigerians cannot wait either. They have bills to pay, children to feed and lives to rebuild,” he said.

Atiku maintained that the hardships facing ordinary citizens deserved the same level of urgency the president attached to engagements with creditors and investors.

Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Hiding Behind Political Allies

Beyond the economic challenges, Atiku accused Tinubu of relying on political surrogates to defend his administration rather than personally answering questions about its policies and performance.

He argued that the presence of governors, ministers and politicians who have defected to the president’s political camp could not replace direct accountability to the electorate.

According to him, political allies might be able to fill campaign venues and deliver speeches in support of the administration, but they could not change the economic realities confronting Nigerians.

“Instead, he is assembling a crowd of politicians to speak for him. He can fill every campaign stage in Nigeria. He cannot fill an empty pot with surrogates. He cannot send a politician into a market to persuade prices to fall,” Atiku said.

He further argued that the officials and political figures campaigning for Tinubu were not the ones who received the presidential mandate in 2023, stressing that the president himself made the promises, took the decisions and should therefore answer for their consequences.

“The people on his campaign council did not receive the mandate in 2023. Tinubu did. He made the promises. He took the decisions. He must face the questions,” he said.

Atiku warned that voters would ultimately judge the president based on their lived experiences rather than campaign speeches or political endorsements.

He maintained that no gathering of influential politicians could shield Tinubu from scrutiny over his administration’s record, insisting that Nigerians would remember the economic conditions they had endured when deciding whether to give him another term.

“Nigerians will hear whatever his surrogates have to say. But when they vote, they will remember what they have lived through. No crowd of politicians can stand between Tinubu and his record,” he added.

Atiku’s remarks place economic hardship and presidential accountability at the centre of the emerging campaign debate, with the former vice president challenging Tinubu to defend his record directly before the electorate.

The criticism also underscores the political significance of campaign appearances, as candidates face pressure to explain their policies, address voters’ concerns and demonstrate how they intend to tackle the economic challenges confronting the country.

Tinubu’s reported absence from some campaign rallies has therefore become another point of contention, with Atiku arguing that the president must personally answer for his administration’s performance rather than leave the task to political allies.