Former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has described the three-year administration of President Bola Tinubu as one defined by hunger, poverty, insecurity and the abduction of schoolchildren.
In a statement issued Thursday by his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the era of “political complacency, propaganda, and governance by deception” was gradually coming to an end as Nigerians prepare to reclaim the country through the ballot box.
According to the former vice president, the true assessment of the Tinubu administration is not reflected in “glossy advertisements, expensive media campaigns, or self-congratulatory speeches,” but in the daily struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians.
“As the Tinubu administration marks three years in office, its most fitting report card is the tears of hungry families, the despair of unemployed youths, the collapse of businesses, and the haunting images of schoolchildren being abducted by criminals while a complacent government looks the other way,” the statement said.
Atiku accused the administration of failing to deliver on its promise of renewed hope, insisting that Nigerians have instead experienced worsening hardship, rising inflation, insecurity, and economic decline.
“Today, millions of Nigerians can no longer afford the basic necessities of life. Food prices have skyrocketed beyond the reach of ordinary families. Inflation has become a cruel tax on the poor. Small and medium-scale businesses are shutting down, investors are fleeing uncertainty, and the naira has been battered,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate further criticised the Federal Government over what he described as reckless borrowing without visible impact on the lives of citizens.
According to him, public reports indicate that the Federal Government borrowed about N11.9 trillion within a nine-month period, while only N3.1 trillion was reportedly spent on capital projects.
“Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: where did the rest of the money go?” he queried.
Atiku also alleged that major infrastructure projects under the current administration appeared concentrated around politically connected interests, citing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway projects.
On insecurity, the former vice president described the resurgence of mass abductions as one of the most damning indictments against the administration.
He referenced the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Borno State and the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire local government area of Oyo State, saying the incidents symbolised the government’s failure to guarantee the safety of citizens.
“What greater evidence of failure can there be than parents sending their children to school only to receive news that they have been abducted?” he asked.
According to Atiku, Nigerians are increasingly rejecting government propaganda and demanding accountability from leaders.
“No amount of propaganda can fill an empty stomach. No amount of spin can erase insecurity. No amount of government advertising can hide the suffering that millions experience every day,” he said.
He urged Nigerians not to lose faith in democracy but to channel their frustrations into peaceful political action through voting.
“The ballot box remains the most powerful weapon in the hands of the people. It is stronger than propaganda, stronger than intimidation, and stronger than incumbency,” he said.
Atiku also disclosed that the ADC would soon unveil a comprehensive policy blueprint aimed at addressing the country’s economic, security, and governance challenges.
According to him, the proposed roadmap would focus on economic recovery, job creation, security sector reform, fiscal discipline, educational revival, healthcare expansion, and the restoration of public confidence in government institutions.
He pledged that an administration under his leadership would prioritise competence, accountability, and national interest in governance.
“The era of excuses is ending. The era of accountability is approaching. The era of propaganda is fading. And with the support of Nigerians, a new chapter of competence, prosperity, security, and genuine hope shall begin,” Atiku stated.
