President Bola Tinubu has been cautioned by former vice president Atiku Abubakar that distributing food to the populace won’t be sufficient to win support in the upcoming general elections.
According to reports, Atiku responded to the government’s ongoing relief efforts in a statement sent by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday.
Giving out foods like rice and spaghetti, he argued, can momentarily assist individuals but cannot take the place of voters’ faith during elections.
Atiku stated that while “bags of rice, spaghetti, and Indomie may offer temporary relief, they cannot secure legitimacy at the ballot box.”
He expressed worries about the state of politics as well, claiming that the ruling party seems to be strengthening its hold on power while reducing the space available for opposition.
He claims that despite the fact that many governors support the ruling party, there are indications of concern regarding competition and Nigerians’ response at the polls.
The former presidential contender claimed that instead of fostering confidence, control over important institutions has made voters and opposition voices uneasy.
He said, “Nigerians are seeing a growing pattern of actions that suggest not strength, but fear, fear of credible opposition, fear of free competition, and fear of the Nigerian voter, at a time when over thirty state governors have been drawn into the orbit of the ruling party.”
Recent events, he continued, point to attempts to undermine opposition parties through internal conflicts and legal concerns.
Atiku went on to condemn the use of state authority, citing instances in which political opponents have been the target of court cases and detentions.
He claimed that such acts are confusing people and casting doubt on the system’s fairness.
He cautioned that if the current state of affairs persists, the nation may transition to a system in which elections are still held but there is less actual competition.
He emphasized that the people’s free will should be the source of leadership, not institutional coercion or the repression of dissenting opinions.
As the next election draws near, Atiku advised Nigerians to remain vigilant, arguing that the people must be given the opportunity to choose their leaders in a just manner.
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