Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s three years in office, saying the administration’s report card is reflected in hunger, poverty, insecurity and the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku, made the assertion in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
He said Nigerians had seen enough of what he called political complacency, propaganda and governance by deception.
Atiku said Tinubu came into office with renewed hope but instead delivered hardship, insecurity, poverty and hopelessness.
“Three years ago, President Tinubu promised a renewed hope. Instead what Nigerians have got is renewed hardship, renewed insecurity, renewed poverty and renewed hopelessness,” he said.
He said the prices of food have become unaffordable to many families, while inflation, unemployment, naira depreciation and collapsing businesses have worsened the hardship across the country.
The former vice president also criticised the borrowing by the administration, saying Nigerians had not seen corresponding improvement in their lives.
He said public records revealed that the Federal Government borrowed about N11.9tn in nine months but spent only N3.1tn on capital projects.
“So, the Nigerians have a right to ask a simple question: where did the rest of the money go?” he said.
Atiku also raised alarm over major infrastructure projects, alleging government spending benefits seem to be going to politically connected interests.
The renewed occurrence of mass abductions is one of the strongest indictments of the administration’s record, Atiku said.
He pointed to the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Borno State and the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“What better evidence of failure is there than parents sending their children to school and receiving news they have been abducted?” he asked.
The incidents revealed many communities were still unsafe despite government claims of progress, he said.
He accused the administration of paying lip service to the plight of the Nigerians rather than addressing their lived realities.
“Empty stomachs cannot be filled by propaganda. “Spin doesn’t erase insecurity,” he said.
The real test of governance, he said, was not in officials’ self-descriptions but in how people felt day to day.
The ex-vice president said that Nigerians had a constitutional weapon to demand change through the ballot box.
“The ballot box is the most powerful weapon in the hands of the people,” he said.
He called on citizens to organise, mobilise, participate and vote, noting that the era of taking Nigerians for granted was coming to an end.
Atiku said that the ADC would soon launch a comprehensive policy blueprint, to tackle the problem of economic hardship, insecurity, institutional weakness and governance failure.
The document will propose plans for economic recovery, job creation, security reform, fiscal discipline, education revival, healthcare expansion and restoration of public confidence in institutions, he said.
Atiku said his campaign would be on ideas, solutions and competence and not insults, slogans and propaganda.
He said a government under his leadership would bring together experienced professionals and technocrats to rebuild the economy, restore security, strengthen institutions and create opportunities for young Nigerians.
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