Tinubu’s 3-year scorecard written in poverty, insecurity — Atiku

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, declaring that its three-year record is defined by “hunger, poverty, insecurity and hopelessness.”

In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Nigerians were increasingly disillusioned with the government and would ultimately use the ballot box to “reclaim their country.”

According to the former vice president, the Tinubu administration’s most accurate report card was not the achievements highlighted in official publicity campaigns, but “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.”

Atiku said President Tinubu came into office promising “renewed hope” but had instead delivered “renewed hardship, renewed insecurity, renewed poverty and renewed hopelessness.”

He lamented the rising cost of living, worsening inflation, and declining purchasing power, arguing that millions of Nigerians could no longer afford basic necessities.

“Never in recent history have so many Nigerians worked so hard only to become poorer,” he said, accusing the government of relying on “propaganda” and “public relations exercises” to create what he described as a false impression of progress.

The ADC presidential candidate also criticised the Federal Government’s borrowing profile, alleging that huge loans obtained in the name of infrastructure development had failed to translate into visible improvements in citizens’ welfare.

Citing public financial reports, Atiku claimed that while the government borrowed about N11.9 trillion within a nine-month period, only N3.1 trillion was reportedly spent on capital projects.

“Nigerians are therefore entitled to ask a simple question: where did the rest of the money go?” he asked.

He further alleged that major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway appeared concentrated around politically connected interests.

According to him, the situation had created a perception that while ordinary Nigerians were being asked to make sacrifices, the benefits of government spending were flowing to a privileged few.

On insecurity, Atiku described the resurgence of kidnappings and attacks on schools as one of the greatest indictments of the current administration.

Referencing recent abductions in Borno and Oyo states, he said the incidents reflected the government’s inability to guarantee safety for 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 queried.

He accused the administration of focusing more on “managing headlines than securing lives,” adding that communities across the country continued to live in fear despite official claims of improvement in security.

Atiku argued that Nigerians were no longer convinced by government assurances that the economy and security situation were improving.

“They tell Nigerians the economy is improving, yet families skip meals. They tell Nigerians insecurity is declining, yet communities live in fear. They tell Nigerians prosperity is around the corner, yet businesses continue to collapse under unbearable pressure,” he said.

The former vice president maintained that citizens’ daily experiences remained the true test of governance rather than official statistics or media campaigns.

He warned the ruling All Progressives Congress against mistaking the patience of Nigerians for acceptance, insisting that citizens were becoming increasingly determined to demand accountability through democratic means.

According to him, the ballot box remained “the most powerful weapon in the hands of the people,” stronger than propaganda, intimidation or incumbency.

Atiku urged Nigerians not to lose faith in democracy but to organise, mobilise and participate actively in future elections.

“The era of complacency is over. The era of propaganda is ending. The era of taking Nigerians for granted is coming to a close,” he declared.

The former vice president also revealed that the ADC would soon unveil what he described as a comprehensive policy blueprint aimed at addressing Nigeria’s economic, security and governance challenges.

He said the proposed roadmap would focus on economic recovery, job creation, security sector reforms, fiscal discipline, education, healthcare and restoring public confidence in state institutions.

Atiku pledged that, if elected, his administration would prioritise competence and merit in governance by assembling experienced professionals and technocrats to tackle the country’s challenges.

“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,” he said.