THE Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken aim at President Bola Tinubu, arguing that more than two years into his administration, there is still no evidence that the government can address the worsening hunger and poverty across Nigeria.
In a statement released today through his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, Atiku described the current level of food insecurity as “unacceptable,” particularly for the underprivileged and vulnerable.
He warned that the situation poses serious risks to national stability.
“Whatever reforms the Tinubu administration claims to be pursuing, the reality is that food insecurity is a daily struggle nationwide,” Atiku said. “No government worth its salt fails to prioritise the welfare and security of its people.”
The former vice president, now a chieftain of the African Democratic Party (ADC), cautioned that widespread hunger has historically triggered uprisings, citing the French Revolution, the 1917 Russian Revolution, and the Arab Spring as examples.
He also drew parallels to Nigeria’s #EndSARS protests, which he suggested were partly fueled by deep frustration and government insensitivity.
Atiku further warned that the country’s economic hardship is fueling a surge in crime, including terrorism, kidnapping, fraud, cultism, drug abuse, and ritual killings.
He stressed that reforms should serve the people, not the other way around, urging the government to adopt policies with a “human face.”
“Whether or not those in power accept it, the reality is that the poor are increasingly dying of hunger, while the majority of those still living exist at the mercy of ill-advised policies,” Atiku lamented.
He added that the current hardship should serve as an opportunity for reflection, insisting that the government’s first duty remains ensuring the security and welfare of Nigerians.