Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s claim that prosperity is on the horizon for Nigerians, describing the statement as disconnected from the realities facing millions of citizens.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the country’s current economic and security situation contradicts claims that the quality of life is improving.
According to the former vice president, many Nigerians are still battling soaring inflation, rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.
He said market traders, civil servants, manufacturers, unemployed graduates and farming communities continue to face severe economic hardship despite the government’s optimism.
While acknowledging that the Tinubu administration inherited significant challenges, Atiku insisted that the President was elected to solve those problems rather than continue blaming previous governments.
“The Constitution did not swear President Tinubu into office to explain history. It swore him into office to change it,” Atiku said.
He also accused the administration of presiding over worsening poverty, fiscal recklessness and a lack of transparency, alleging that government policies have benefited only a privileged few while millions of Nigerians struggle.
The former vice president further criticised Tinubu’s comments on Nigeria’s growing population, arguing that countries like China turned their large populations into economic strengths through sustained investment in manufacturing, education, infrastructure and technology.
Atiku said an ADC-led administration would prioritise manufacturing, agriculture, quality education, skills development, infrastructure and export-driven industries to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
He also described as insensitive any suggestion that Nigerians should accept current hardship because previous generations also experienced difficult economic conditions.
According to him, citizens elected the present administration to improve their lives, not to justify today’s hardship by comparing it with the past.
“If the President truly believes that the quality of life is improving, then one must respectfully remind him that the Nigeria he is talking about exists only in his head,” Atiku stated.
He maintained that hope must be backed by policies that deliver affordable food, reliable electricity, employment opportunities, quality healthcare, education and improved security.
The statement comes in response to President Tinubu’s recent remarks expressing confidence that his administration’s reforms are beginning to yield positive results and that prosperity is on the horizon for Nigerians.
