Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to account for his administration’s performance before asking Nigerians to renew his mandate in the 2027 general election.
Atiku accused the president of relying on governors, ministers and politicians who have defected to the ruling party to defend his record, arguing that their support cannot replace direct answers to Nigerians struggling with rising living costs.
The former vice-president made the remarks in a statement issued to Naija News by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
He questioned Tinubu’s suggestion that his participation in campaign rallies could be limited by the demands of governing the country, asking why the same sense of urgency had not translated into sufficient relief for citizens facing economic difficulties.
Atiku said the president should explain what his administration had done to address the cost of food, the affordability of healthcare and the difficulties confronting pensioners and young job seekers.
He argued that Nigerians had endured years of financial pressure, with household incomes struggling to keep pace with rising expenses.
According to Atiku, Tinubu should face voters and account for his first term before seeking another four years in office.
The former vice-president also questioned the administration’s response to the needs of ordinary citizens, saying their daily struggles deserved the same level of urgency given to financial obligations involving foreign creditors and investors.
He maintained that Nigerians were dealing with immediate concerns, including feeding their families, paying bills and rebuilding their livelihoods.
‘He Cannot Fill An Empty Pot With Surrogates’
Atiku also criticised the president’s reliance on political allies to communicate his administration’s achievements and defend its policies.
He argued that politicians campaigning on Tinubu’s behalf could not resolve the economic problems confronting households or persuade Nigerians to disregard their personal experiences.
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Using a metaphor to underline his criticism, Atiku said the president could not “fill an empty pot with surrogates” or send politicians into markets to convince traders to reduce prices.
He added that the members of Tinubu’s campaign council were not the individuals Nigerians elected as president in 2023, stressing that the responsibility for the administration’s record rested with Tinubu himself.
The ADC campaign council official said Nigerians would listen to the arguments presented by the president’s supporters but would ultimately assess the administration based on their experiences.
Atiku maintained that political endorsements and campaign activities would not shield Tinubu from scrutiny over the state of the economy.
