Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his three-week trip to Europe, accusing him of abandoning Nigerians at a time the country is grappling with economic hardship, insecurity and rising living costs.
The presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a statement posted on X, said Nigeria may not be experiencing a constitutional vacuum, but was facing what he described as a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.”
He argued that while travelling abroad is not inherently wrong for a president, the timing of Tinubu’s trip was difficult to justify given the economic and security challenges confronting the country.
According to Atiku, Nigerians are struggling with high petrol prices, rising food costs and transport fares, while insecurity continues to claim lives across the country.
He further noted that the Vice President is also outside the country on official duty, arguing that the circumstances make Tinubu’s decision to embark on a three-week European trip even more troubling.
“Leadership is not merely the constitutional kjvight to occupy an office; it is the judgment to know when your country needs you at home,” Atiku said.
Using an analogy of a family facing a crisis, the former vice president said a father would not leave home when his house was on fire and his family was trapped inside.
“That is the issue here. It is not that a President must never rest or travel. It is that Nigeria is burning, and the President has chosen a boarding pass over the fire extinguisher,” he said.
Atiku also criticised the administration over the rising cost of living, saying millions of Nigerians are struggling to afford basic transportation while the President continues to travel.
“Millions of Nigerians are being grounded by hardship while their President is airborne. The people can barely afford to move, but the President keeps moving,” he stated.
The former vice president accused the government of failing to adequately appreciate the hardship its policies have imposed on citizens, arguing that a government that does not feel the pain of the people would struggle to address it.
He concluded with a direct political message, contrasting his proposed leadership with the Tinubu administration.
“Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again,” Atiku declared.
