The ADC presidential candidate accuses the President of shifting blame for Nigeria’s economic hardship to the opposition, questions billions in energy and pipeline spending, and says the 2027 election will test the administration’s record.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu for blaming the opposition for Nigeria’s hunger and poverty, accusing the President of attempting to deflect responsibility for the economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the administration should account for its economic policies, rising living costs, persistent insecurity and public expenditure instead of blaming political opponents for the country’s challenges.

The former Vice President’s reaction followed Tinubu’s remarks on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna, where the President attributed hunger and poverty to his political opponents.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu said his opponents were responsible for the hardship Nigerians were experiencing, adding that his administration was working to eliminate the problems.

“I hear my opponent talking about hunger, poverty. Who created it? They did! They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” the President said.

However, Atiku rejected the assertion, arguing that the APC had controlled the Federal Government for more than a decade and should therefore take responsibility for its record in office.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Nigerians had every right to demand answers from the government over the state of the economy.

“Mr President, blaming the opposition for hunger is either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia. The APC governed Nigeria for eight years before you took office. You have added another three and a half years,” the statement quoted Atiku as saying.

He added that the economic difficulties confronting households and businesses did not begin when opposition politicians started criticising the government.

“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,” he said.

Atiku maintained that Nigerians were experiencing the consequences of government policies and that the President could not dismiss their concerns by shifting blame to political rivals.

Atiku questions Abuja-Kaduna Expressway commissioning

The ADC chieftain also criticised Tinubu’s reported decision to commission the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from a stadium, questioning the state of the project and the circumstances surrounding the ceremony.

According to Atiku, the administration should demonstrate tangible progress on infrastructure projects rather than rely on official ceremonies to communicate achievements.

“Your decision to commission the unfinished Abuja to Kaduna Expressway from inside a stadium shows how far removed you are from the daily reality of Nigerians. A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon-cutting ceremony,” he said.

He further challenged the President to explain the impact of his administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira.

“Which administration removed the petrol subsidy and watched the naira fall from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 to the dollar?” Atiku asked.

The former Vice President also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026, using the figure to reinforce his argument that the government needed to address the scale of economic hardship.

Demands explanations for billions in public spending

Atiku also raised questions about federal budgeting and government expenditure, including the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025, the operation of a separate 2025 budget and spending recorded under energy security.

He specifically questioned the ₦7.13tn reportedly recorded under energy security in 2024, as well as ₦11.2tn in pipeline-related spending by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

He demanded that the government explain how the funds were spent, who benefited from the expenditure and what results Nigerians had received in return.

“Nigerians deserve to know who received these sums and what was delivered,” he said.

Atiku also called for clarification over what he described as a $12.4bn gap in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026 and $22.5m reportedly paid in “other charges” on the Abu Dhabi financing facility.

The claims and figures raised by Atiku were presented as questions requiring answers from the government. His statement did not, by itself, establish that the cited expenditures were improper or that any funds had been misappropriated.

Links economic hardship to insecurity

Beyond the economy, Atiku questioned the administration’s handling of insecurity, citing persistent killings, kidnappings and the displacement of residents in communities across the country.

He argued that the government should address these concerns alongside the rising cost of living, rather than focus on political exchanges with the opposition.

“These are the questions Nigerians are asking while your government blames the opposition,” he said.

The former Vice President insisted that the administration should be assessed on its policies, measurable results and the experiences of ordinary Nigerians.

ALSO READ: Tinubu Blames Opposition for Hunger, Poverty in Nigeria, Seeks Second Term
https://dailyobserver.ng/tinubu-blames-opposition-for-hunger-poverty-in-nigeria-seeks-second-term

He argued that families struggling to afford basic necessities, businesses facing rising operating costs and communities affected by insecurity needed practical solutions and clear explanations from those in power.

Atiku says 2027 election will test Tinubu’s record

Atiku concluded by saying the 2027 presidential election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to assess Tinubu’s performance in office.

“You cannot govern for three years, make life harder, and then blame others for describing the hardship. You asked who created the hunger. Nigerians are asking what you have done to end it,” he said.

“The 2027 presidential election will be a referendum on your record. Nigerians have felt the cost of your leadership in their homes, markets and communities,” he added.

The exchange highlights the growing political contest over responsibility for Nigeria’s economic challenges as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.

While Tinubu has maintained that his administration is working to tackle hunger and poverty, Atiku has argued that the government must provide clearer answers on the impact of its policies, the management of public funds and its response to insecurity.

The Presidency’s response to the specific allegations and spending questions raised in Atiku’s statement was not included in the statement provided.