Leading Nigerian opposition leader, Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of incompetence, causing more poverty, and taking the country toward an more economic crisis.
In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku described the Tinubu government as “disconnected, anti-people, and wasteful,” saying its two years in power have inflicted more hardship on Nigerians than any administration in the country’s democratic history.
“No previous government has inflicted this level of suffering on the masses while showing such disregard for transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership,” Atiku said.
Citing the Global Hunger Index 2024, Atiku decried Nigeria’s slide into extreme poverty and food insecurity. He noted that Nigeria now holds the shameful record of being the country with the highest number of malnourished children in Africa — surpassing even war-torn Sudan.
“It is devastating that Nigeria, once full of promise, now ranks 18th on the Global Hunger Index. We have become both the poverty capital of the world and the malnutrition capital of Africa under Tinubu’s watch,” he said.
Atiku also condemned what he called “elitist policies” that favor the rich while punishing the poor. He pointed to recent developments such as the 75% hike in National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) service fees and the introduction of “VIP” protocols, calling it an assault on the basic rights of ordinary Nigerians.
“The NIMC is now charging the poor more for something that should be a fundamental right. In education, public universities have been priced out of the reach of average Nigerian families, yet the government offers no meaningful support system,” he added.
On the economy, Atiku expressed alarm over Nigeria’s ballooning debt profile under Tinubu. According to him, the country’s public debt has surged from N49 trillion in 2023 to N144 trillion in 2025 — a staggering 150% increase in just two years. He warned that with new foreign loans on the table, the total debt could soon exceed N183 trillion.
“This government is plunging future generations into debt servitude with no clear plan to repay or stimulate real economic growth. The federal government is the main driver of this debt crisis, while subnational governments are showing greater fiscal responsibility,” he said, noting that state debts declined from N5.86 trillion to N3.97 trillion.
Atiku criticized Tinubu’s justification for fresh borrowing, which is allegedly to fund the 2025 budget and cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
“It was the reckless and chaotic manner in which this administration removed fuel subsidies that created the economic storm Nigerians are currently enduring. Using that as an excuse to borrow more is dishonest and irresponsible,” he said.
Calling for a united opposition, Atiku vowed to resist what he described as a creeping authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic values.
“We will not sit back while this administration turns Nigeria into a one-party state where dissent is crushed and power is abused,” he said.
He announced the formation of a broad-based opposition coalition that will “hold this government accountable, restore the voice of the people, and rescue Nigeria from misrule.”
“We are here to protect democracy, fight for economic justice, and bring real leadership back to the people. We will not stop until that goal is achieved,” Atiku concludes.
