By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of evading responsibility for Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship by blaming the opposition for hunger and poverty.
Atiku described Tinubu’s allegation as a “delusional, shameless attempt” to escape responsibility for the economic difficulties Nigerians have faced under his administration.
The former vice president, in a statement issued on Saturday, signed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, said Tinubu could not implement policies that worsen living conditions and subsequently blame the opposition for drawing attention to their consequences.
“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,” Atiku said.
He argued that Nigerians were aware of the party that had been in power and would not accept attempts to shift responsibility for the country’s economic challenges.
According to him, the hardship experienced by citizens is real and cannot be dismissed through accusations against political opponents.
Atiku also criticised Tinubu for commissioning the unfinished Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from inside a stadium, describing the action as evidence of the President’s disconnect from the daily struggles of Nigerians.
“A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon-cutting ceremony,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate challenged Tinubu to account for the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira, which he said fell from approximately ₦471 to the dollar to ₦1,329 under the administration.
He also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026, questioning the government’s handling of the economy.
Atiku further criticised the administration over the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 while allegedly operating a separate 2025 budget, arguing that Nigerians deserved explanations about the government’s fiscal management.
He raised questions over ₦7.13 trillion recorded under “energy security” in 2024 and ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline-related spending, demanding transparency regarding the beneficiaries of the funds and the results achieved.
The former vice president also questioned what he described as a $12.4 billion gap flagged in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026 and the payment of $22.5 million in “other charges” on the Abu Dhabi financing facility.
Beyond the economy, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of failing to address persistent insecurity, including killings, kidnappings and the displacement of communities across the country.
He said the government should focus on addressing these challenges rather than blaming the opposition for highlighting the suffering of Nigerians.
“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.
Atiku maintained that Nigerians would assess Tinubu’s administration based on their experiences in their homes, markets and communities rather than the explanations offered at political rallies.
He described the 2027 presidential election as a referendum on Tinubu’s performance, insisting that the electorate had already rejected the administration.
“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. Their verdict is already clear: they have rejected your administration,” Atiku said.
