Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of blaming the opposition for hunger and poverty to evade responsibility for the economic hardship Nigerians face under his administration.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said Tinubu could not introduce policies that worsened living conditions and then blame the opposition for speaking about their consequences.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku described the President’s remarks as an attempt to deflect responsibility for his administration’s record.

“Mr President, blaming the opposition for hunger is either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia,” Atiku said.

He argued that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had governed Nigeria for eight years before Tinubu assumed office, adding that Nigerians knew which administration was responsible for the country’s current economic challenges.

“The hardship your administration has brought upon Nigerians is real. You cannot deny it by blaming others,” he said.

Atiku also criticised Tinubu for commissioning the unfinished Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from inside a stadium, arguing that a speech or ribbon-cutting ceremony could not substitute for completing public infrastructure projects.

He challenged the President to account for the removal of the petrol subsidy and the naira’s depreciation, citing the exchange rate’s fall from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 to the dollar.

The former vice president 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 and public finances.

He raised questions about the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside a separate 2025 budget, as well as reported spending of ₦7.13 trillion under “energy security” in 2024 and ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline-related expenditure.

Atiku called for greater transparency over the spending, asking Nigerians to be told who received the funds and what the expenditure delivered.

He further questioned a $12.4 billion gap reportedly flagged in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026 and a $22.5 million payment in “other charges” on the Abu Dhabi financing facility.
The ADC candidate also faulted the administration over persistent insecurity, citing killings, kidnappings and the displacement of communities.

“These are the questions Nigerians are asking while your government blames the opposition,” he said.
Atiku maintained that the government should focus on addressing the country’s economic challenges rather than attacking critics.

“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.
He added that the 2027 presidential election would serve as a referendum on Tinubu’s performance, insisting that voters would judge the administration by their living conditions rather than its explanations.