Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the cost of living, insecurity, fuel subsidy removal and what he described as poor accountability in government.
Atiku spoke on Thursday at the ADC headquarters in Abuja in his Independence Day address marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary.
He rejected Tinubu’s declaration that Nigeria had moved beyond the emergency phase of economic reforms into an “age of prosperity,” arguing that falling inflation and economic growth meant little to families still struggling to afford food, transport, healthcare and electricity.
“Bola, where is this prosperity?” Atiku asked, saying a slower rise in prices does not reverse the purchasing power Nigerians have already lost.
He also blamed the removal of the petrol subsidy for worsening fuel, transport and food costs, and proposed a capped, budgeted production subsidy for petrol refined in Nigeria, including fuel from modular refineries.
Under the proposal, imported petrol would not qualify, while the cost of the programme would be published and independently audited. Atiku said the objective was to encourage domestic refining, create jobs and reduce pump prices.
The ADC candidate also criticised the government over insecurity, saying farmers, schoolchildren and families were living under the threat of attacks and kidnapping.
He argued that economic reforms could not deliver affordable food if farmers could not safely access their farms, and promised that an ADC government would prioritise security alongside reducing the cost of food, fuel and power.
Atiku further challenged Tinubu over the promised reduction in transport fares from October 1, demanding that the Federal Government publish the affected routes, previous and new fares and the number of beneficiaries.
“Nigerians cannot board an announcement,” he said.
On public finances, Atiku questioned the government’s handling of the national budget, noting that the 2025 budget had been extended into 2026 while the 2026 budget was also in operation. He demanded greater transparency over government borrowing, spending and outstanding obligations.
He also called for an auditable account of the reported ₦75,000 cash transfers to more than 10 million Nigerians, asking how beneficiaries—particularly those without phones and those in insecure areas—were identified and paid.
Atiku additionally questioned the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway procurement process, calling for the publication of bidding, evaluation, contract and variation documents. He also urged the government to pay local contractors who, he said, remained owed for completed projects.
On education and employment, Atiku criticised rising school fees and the use of student loans and consumer credit as solutions to affordability problems. He said young Nigerians needed jobs and sustainable incomes rather than promises of future prosperity.
He also raised concerns over the recent stampede at the Niger State Government House in which three people reportedly died amid expectations of a ₦10,000 distribution, calling for a full account of how the gathering was organised.
Turning to civil liberties, Atiku called for due process in cases involving detained Nigerians and demanded the release of five youths arrested in Borno over “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts, while urging that any allegations against them be tested fairly.
On the 2027 elections, Atiku pledged to respect the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), support prompt publication of polling-unit results and prosecute vote-buying and result manipulation regardless of the political party involved.
He urged Nigerians to question every candidate, protect their votes and reject intimidation.
Atiku said his proposed administration would measure its performance by what Nigerians can afford and whether they can live safely, rather than solely by government revenue or macroeconomic indicators.
He concluded by rejecting Tinubu’s claim that Nigeria had crossed the “Red Sea” into prosperity, insisting that Nigerians must be able to experience the promised improvement in their daily lives.
“We have chosen a different course, peacefully and together, through the power of our votes,” Atiku said before declaring: “Tinubu must go.”
