Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent Independence Day speech, disputing the President’s claims that Nigeria’s economy and security situation have improved significantly.
In his address, President Tinubu stated that Nigeria has turned a corner after inheriting a nearly collapsed economy, citing years of poor fiscal policies to blame. He mentioned progress in education and healthcare as evidence of the administration’s achievements since 1960.
However, Atiku responded by painting a harsher reality for ordinary Nigerians.Through a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shuaibu, Atiku said,
The yam may be plentiful, but if the pot is empty, the stomach still rumbles…Nigerians still sleep with one eye open, and families still pay ransom as if it were the daily price of gari – Atiku
He noted that despite the increase in schools, many pupils still sit on bare floors and write in dust, with teacher absenteeism driven by unpaid and insufficient salaries. Similarly, hospitals remain inadequately equipped, forcing patients’ families to bring their own supplies before treatment begins.
On economic conditions, Atiku pointed out the rising cost of food and transport, outlining that many Nigerian families now survive on less than one meal a day. He said the government’s touted reforms have yet to translate into tangible relief for citizens.
While on security, he referenced the recent tragic killing of Somtochukwu, a young news anchor, during a robbery attack, illustrating that danger affects even those who bring news to the public.
Atiku challenged the government’s claims of disbursing billions to poor households, asserting that poverty and hunger remain visible across the country. He lamented that many young graduates are forced into informal labor, such as selling sachet water or motorcycle taxi riding, rather than meaningful employment.
Leave a comment