Atiku says Tinubu administration has deepened Nigeria’s poverty

Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of pushing Nigerians deeper into poverty since it took office in 2023. Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, made the allegation during a state-of-the-nation broadcast at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Day anniversary. He cited rising insecurity and the cost of living as evidence of what he described as failures by the All Progressives Congress government.

Atiku also rejected President Tinubu’s assessment that economic reforms were beginning to produce “prosperity”. In his October 1 address, Tinubu had said the reforms were starting to turn into prosperity. Atiku said the country was instead “deeper into poverty, far from the dreams of the founding fathers”.

The statement was an allegation by the opposition politician, and the material contains no response from the Presidency. Atiku urged Nigerians not to lose hope, arguing that the 2027 election would provide an opportunity to choose a leader capable of taking the country towards prosperity. He called on voters to participate and protect their ballots on election day.

He also demanded the immediate release of people he described as being unlawfully detained. Atiku warned citizens against accepting claims that the ruling party had already predetermined the result of the next presidential election. The former vice-president’s comments set out the ADC’s criticism of the administration’s economic and security record.

The supplied material does not provide independent figures assessing his claims or details of the individuals whose release he requested.