By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of worsening poverty and the cost-of-living crisis in Nigeria.
Atiku made the allegation on Thursday while delivering a state-of-the-nation address at the ADC headquarters in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, and said rising food, transport and energy costs had placed additional pressure on households.
Atiku also challenged Tinubu’s Independence Day assessment that the reforms were ushering Nigeria towards prosperity, arguing that improvements in economic indicators must translate into better living conditions for Nigerians.
“A growing government account is not a recovering Nigerian,” Atiku said, arguing that economic progress should be measured by what citizens can afford and their ability to live and work safely.
The former vice president also criticised the government’s handling of insecurity, saying farmers, businesses and families continued to face disruptions and threats in parts of the country.
He proposed a capped and budgeted production subsidy for petrol refined in Nigeria, including fuel from modular refineries. Atiku said the proposal would be tied to verified domestic production, with the costs independently audited.
On transportation, Atiku questioned the Federal Government’s announcement of lower fares from October 1 and called for the publication of routes covered, fares before and after the reduction, and the number of beneficiaries.
He also questioned government spending, borrowing and social intervention programmes, calling for greater transparency in public expenditure and an auditable account of cash-transfer payments.
Atiku further raised concerns about political freedoms and due process, calling for the rule of law to be applied fairly in cases involving detained individuals.
He urged Nigerians to participate in the 2027 elections and protect their votes, saying citizens should demand measurable plans and accountability from all political candidates, including himself.
The ADC candidate said his proposed administration would focus on reducing the cost of food, fuel and power, improving access to healthcare and education, strengthening security and making government spending more accountable.
Atiku’s address came hours after Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast, defended his administration’s economic reforms and said Nigeria was moving towards an era of shared prosperity.
