Atiku condemns Tinubu’s administration as ‘failed’, vows resistance

Abdullateef Fowewe

Former Vice President Abubakar Atiku sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that it has “failed the people” and promising that the opposition coalition “will not be silent.”

Atiku in an impassioned statement released on Thursday, painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s current state under Tinubu’s leadership, describing the government as “one of the most incompetent, disconnected, and anti-people” in the country’s democratic history.

He lamented the deepening poverty and rising inequality, saying, “No previous administration has inflicted this level of hardship on the masses while showing such disregard for transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership.”

Highlighting the human cost of the government’s policies, Atiku pointed to alarming statistics from the Global Hunger Index 2024, which ranks Nigeria as the 18th most affected country by hunger and malnutrition—surpassing even war-torn Sudan.

“It is sad that Nigeria has emerged as the capital of malnourished children in Africa,” he said, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.

Atiku also criticised recent policy decisions that disproportionately burden the poor, such as the 75% fee hike by the National Identity Management Commission and soaring public university fees that exclude many from education.

“Nigerians are now faced with class-based systems where the wealthy enjoy VIP treatment, and the rest are left behind,” he said.

The opposition leader did not hold back on fiscal matters, revealing that Nigeria’s public debt has surged from approximately N49 trillion in 2023 to N144 trillion today—a staggering 150% increase in just two years.

“While the federal government racks up debt, state governments have shown more discipline,” Atiku noted, blaming Tinubu’s administration as “the primary driver of Nigeria’s current debt crisis.”

Addressing the government’s rationale for borrowing, Atiku called it “both weak and dishonest,” especially criticizing the removal of fuel subsidies, which he said “created much of today’s economic hardship.”

With a clear call to action, Atiku concluded, “We are building a strong, united opposition coalition — one that will challenge the excesses of this administration, restore accountability, and return government to the people.

“We will protect the right of every Nigerian to freely choose their leaders, and we will continue to fight for economic justice, political freedom, and national progress.

“We are here to rescue Nigeria. And we will not stop until that goal is achieved.”