Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has declared that the era of political complacency, propaganda, and governance by deception is coming to an end, insisting that Nigerians are ready to reclaim their country through the ballot box.
Atiku's Statement on Tinubu's Three Years
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said President Bola Tinubu's three years in office would be remembered not for government publicity campaigns or official ceremonies, but for 'the tears of hungry families, the despair of unemployed youths, the collapse of businesses, and the haunting images of abducted schoolchildren.' According to him, while every government is entitled to its opinions, 'no government is entitled to its own facts.'
'The facts are stubborn and unforgiving. Three years ago, President Tinubu promised renewed hope. What Nigerians have received instead is renewed hardship, renewed insecurity, renewed poverty, and renewed hopelessness,' Atiku said.
Economic Woes Under Tinubu
He lamented the worsening economic situation in the country, noting that millions of Nigerians could no longer afford basic necessities as inflation and rising food prices continue to erode living standards. 'Food prices have skyrocketed beyond the reach of ordinary families. Inflation has become a cruel tax on the poor. Small and medium-scale businesses are shutting their doors. Investors are fleeing uncertainty. The naira has been battered, and purchasing power has collapsed.'
'Never in recent history have so many Nigerians worked so hard only to become poorer. Never has a government celebrated itself so loudly while its citizens suffered so deeply,' he added.
Accusations of Propaganda
The former Vice President accused the administration of relying on propaganda and media campaigns instead of addressing the economic realities confronting citizens. 'While Nigerians endure the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, this administration continues to manufacture statistics, stage elaborate ceremonies, and engage in endless public relations exercises designed to create the illusion of progress where none exists,' he stated.
Atiku also criticised the Federal Government's borrowing profile, questioning the transparency surrounding the utilisation of borrowed funds. 'This administration has borrowed trillions of naira in the name of infrastructure and economic development, yet Nigerians cannot see corresponding improvements in their daily lives.'
Citing public reports, Atiku claimed that while the Federal Government borrowed approximately N11.9 trillion within a nine-month period, only N3.1 trillion was reportedly spent on capital projects. 'Nigerians are therefore entitled to ask a simple question: where did the rest of the money go?' he queried.
He further alleged that major infrastructure projects appeared concentrated around politically connected interests, citing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway. 'This administration has created the disturbing perception that while ordinary Nigerians are being asked to endure sacrifice, the benefits of government spending are increasingly flowing towards a privileged circle of politically connected interests.'
Insecurity and Abductions
On insecurity, Atiku described the resurgence of mass abductions as one of the strongest indictments against the administration. 'While government officials celebrate themselves and distribute scorecards, terrorists and criminal gangs are distributing fear across the country,' he stated.
He cited the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Borno State and the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as evidence of worsening insecurity. 'What greater evidence of failure can there be than parents sending their children to school only to receive news that they have been abducted? What greater symbol of governmental failure exists than classrooms becoming hunting grounds for criminals?' he asked.
According to him, the recurring security breaches reflected a government 'detached from reality and addicted to propaganda.' 'When governments become consumed by self-praise, they stop listening. When they stop listening, they stop learning. And when they stop learning, they begin to fail,' he added.
Call for Political Action
Atiku maintained that no amount of official rhetoric could erase the hardship experienced daily by millions of Nigerians. 'They tell Nigerians the economy is improving, yet families skip meals. They tell Nigerians insecurity is declining, yet communities live in fear. They tell Nigerians prosperity is around the corner, yet businesses continue to collapse under unbearable pressure.'
'No amount of propaganda can fill an empty stomach. No amount of spin can erase insecurity,' he said.
The former Vice President warned against mistaking the patience and resilience of Nigerians for acceptance or approval. 'Nigerians have endured extraordinary hardship because they are resilient people. But resilience should never be mistaken for weakness. Patience should never be mistaken for surrender,' he stated.
He stressed that democracy remains the most powerful tool available to citizens for peaceful change. 'The ballot box remains stronger than propaganda, intimidation, or incumbency,' he declared.
Atiku urged Nigerians to channel their frustrations into peaceful political participation, mobilisation, and voting. 'Our responsibility is not merely to complain. Our responsibility is to organise, mobilise, participate, and vote,' he said.
He added that Nigerians deserve more than 'a catalogue of broken promises and missed opportunities,' insisting that the country needs a credible alternative and practical roadmap for national recovery.
