Atiku Replies Tinubu, Accuses President of Dodging Responsibility for Hunger

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to evade responsibility for hunger and poverty in Nigeria by blaming the opposition.
Atiku described the President’s claim that the opposition created hunger and poverty as a delusional and shameless attempt to deflect attention from the economic hardship Nigerians are experiencing under his administration.
He said Tinubu could not implement policies that worsen economic conditions and subsequently blame others for the consequences.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The former vice president challenged Tinubu to take responsibility for his administration’s record, arguing that Nigerians were aware of the political party that had governed the country since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power in 2015.
In the statement, Atiku said:
“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. Nigerians know who has been in power, and hardship did not begin when the opposition started talking about it. Stop insulting their intelligence and answer for your record.
“The hardship your administration has brought upon Nigerians is real. You cannot deny it by blaming others.
“Your decision to commission the unfinished Abuja to Kaduna Expressway from inside a stadium shows how far removed you are from the daily reality of Nigerians. A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon cutting ceremony.
“Which administration removed the petrol subsidy and watched the naira fall from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 to the dollar?
“Which administration has presided over a rise in poverty that led the World Bank to estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians will be below the national poverty line in 2026? Which administration extended the 2024 budget into 2025 while also operating a separate 2025 budget?
“Which administration recorded ₦7.13 trillion under ‘energy security’ in 2024 and faces questions over ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline related spending? Nigerians deserve to know who received these sums and what was delivered.
“Which administration must explain the $12.4 billion gap flagged in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026? Which administration paid $22.5 million in ‘other charges’ on the Abu Dhabi financing facility?
“Which administration is responsible for the killings, kidnappings and displacement that continue to terrorise communities? These are the questions Nigerians are asking while your government blames the opposition.
“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.
“The people will judge your government by the lives they are living, not by the excuses you offer at campaign rallies.
“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 also questioned the administration’s handling of the economy, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, the depreciation of the naira and the country’s rising poverty levels.
He further raised concerns about government expenditure, including spending attributed to energy security, pipeline-related costs and charges associated with an Abu Dhabi financing facility.
The ADC presidential candidate also questioned the reported gap in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026, demanding greater transparency and accountability over public funds.
On infrastructure, Atiku criticised Tinubu’s decision to commission the unfinished Abuja-Kaduna Expressway from inside a stadium, arguing that a ceremony could not substitute for the completion of a project.
He also accused the administration of failing to adequately address insecurity, citing persistent killings, kidnappings and the displacement of communities across the country.
According to Atiku, the 2027 presidential election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to assess the administration’s performance based on their lived experiences.
He maintained that the government should focus on addressing the country’s economic and security challenges rather than blaming the opposition for drawing attention to them.
The statement was signed by Shaibu on October 24, 2026, on behalf of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.