Presidency Clashes With Atiku Over Hunger And Revolution Warning

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Bola Tinubu administration of deepening poverty, division, and hardship through poorly thought-out policies.

Speaking through his media aide, Atiku warned that unchecked hunger and rising frustration in the country could spark unrest similar to historical uprisings in other parts of the world.

Atiku argued that the government’s economic direction has left millions struggling, noting that insecurity, unemployment, and food shortages have worsened daily life. He claimed that Nigerians have never been this poor and hungry, stressing that reforms should have a human face rather than focusing on political calculations.

The Presidency swiftly dismissed his remarks, describing them as misleading and out of touch with the country’s realities. In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, presidential adviser on information and strategy, the government said Atiku’s comparison of Nigeria’s situation to revolutions in France, Russia, or the Arab Spring was an exaggeration designed to stoke fear.

The government insisted that Nigeria’s economy is showing progress under Tinubu. It cited new data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing inflation easing for the fifth consecutive month, as well as a record trade surplus driven by non-oil exports. It also highlighted rising foreign reserves, now approaching $42 billion, up from $32 billion when Tinubu took office, alongside the clearance of over $7 billion in arrears, including debts owed to international airlines.

The Presidency maintained that states are recording better revenues and can now meet salary and pension obligations while investing in capital projects. It argued that many of today’s challenges were inherited from years of mismanagement under the Peoples Democratic Party, when Atiku was vice president.

While Atiku urged the government to reflect and change course to avoid social upheaval, the Presidency insisted that its policies are working and reshaping the economy for long-term stability. It said Atiku and his party remain stuck in the past, relying on alarmist rhetoric, while Nigerians can already see signs of improvement under Tinubu’s leadership.