Atiku to Tinubu: 30 Days Cannot Erase Three Years of Economic Hardship

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over Nigeria’s worsening cost-of-living crisis, describing the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day petrol discount as an inadequate response to the economic difficulties facing millions of citizens.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, argued that the temporary intervention would do little to address the sustained increases in food prices, transportation costs and energy expenses that have reduced household purchasing power.

He made the remarks on Friday during the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, where he presented his economic proposals and urged Nigerians to vote Tinubu out of office in the January 2027 election.

According to Atiku, many Nigerians continue to struggle with the rising cost of basic necessities, while businesses face mounting operational expenses and farmers contend with security challenges affecting agricultural activities.

“Bola Tinubu has had more than three years to improve our lives. What has he given us? A bag of food that costs more each time we go to the market. A journey to work that eats up our salaries. A business that cannot keep its lights on. A farm we may be too afraid to visit,” Atiku said.

The former vice president accused the administration of introducing difficult economic reforms without providing sufficient support to cushion their effects on ordinary Nigerians.

He also questioned the rationale behind the proposed petrol discount, arguing that the government should explain how it intends to protect households and businesses from another increase in living costs when the temporary measure ends.

“Bola, your government has made life unbearable and called it reform. You have demanded painful sacrifices from the people while you, your family, and friends are junketing all over the place,” he said.

Atiku maintained that a 30-day intervention would not resolve the underlying economic challenges affecting commuters, traders, manufacturers and farmers, whose expenses are closely linked to the price of petroleum products.

“More importantly, you owe Nigerians an answer: what happens on day 31?” he asked.

The ADC presidential candidate also accused the Tinubu administration of adopting an idea similar to his proposed production subsidy after previously criticising the approach.

He argued that his proposal would provide targeted assistance for petroleum products refined locally and sold within Nigeria, with clear spending limits, budgetary provisions and independent audits to ensure accountability.

“My production subsidy proposal is a lasting, targeted plan. Yours is a temporary palliative dressed up as a solution,” he said.

Atiku said supporting petroleum products refined in Nigeria could strengthen domestic refining, reduce reliance on imported finished fuel and ease some of the cost pressures affecting transportation, food distribution and business operations.

He called on the government to ensure that any such intervention was restricted to eligible locally refined products, with its financial implications and benefits made available to the public.

“Support petroleum products actually refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians. Cap the support. Put it in the budget. Audit it independently. Exclude imports. Show the public what it costs and what they save,” he said.

Beyond fuel prices, Atiku argued that an effective economic recovery programme must address food affordability, electricity supply, unemployment, insecurity and the difficulties confronting young entrepreneurs.

“A speech about growth means nothing to a family that cannot afford dinner,” he said.

He accused Tinubu of failing to take adequate responsibility for the consequences of his administration’s economic policies, pointing to the pressure on household incomes and the challenges faced by businesses.

Atiku also charged members of the campaign council to take the ADC’s proposals to markets, motor parks, farms, universities and communities across the country.

He said the campaign should explain not only the policies it intends to introduce but also how the proposed programmes would be financed.

Describing the 2027 election as a rescue mission, he urged eligible Nigerians to participate in the electoral process and use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to demand a change in government.

“Another four years of Bola Tinubu means another four years of hunger, hardship and national decline,” he said.

Atiku also outlined proposed electoral reforms, arguing that efforts to improve the economy must be accompanied by measures that strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

He called for the prompt publication of polling-unit results and greater opportunities for political parties and election observers to independently verify results.

His proposals also included the live broadcast of state and national collation proceedings, independent audits of election technology before and after elections, and the creation of an independent commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offences.

Atiku said accredited party agents, civil society organisations and election observers should be permitted to operate situation rooms and verify results without replacing the constitutional responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Transparency is not a crime,” he said, adding that election technology should promote accountability rather than make the process less accessible to the public.

The ADC candidate also expressed concern over alleged attempts to restrict opposition campaigns in some parts of the country, citing an alleged move to prevent an opposition candidate from campaigning in Benue State.

He said the ADC intended to campaign nationwide and would challenge any restrictions through lawful channels, including the courts.

“We will campaign in every state, from the creeks to the savannahs, and resist any effort to stop our candidates from reaching Nigerians,” he said.

Atiku concluded his address by asking Tinubu to resign, arguing that a month-long petrol discount could not compensate Nigerians for the economic difficulties experienced during the president’s tenure.

“Bola, thirty days cannot erase three and a half years of hardship. Nigerians have heard your excuses and endured your failed promises.

“They are ready to judge your record. After this latest admission of failure, the honourable thing to do is step down. Nigerians deserve a government that will do the work and make life affordable again.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, described the inauguration as the beginning of a campaign focused on addressing economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and the rising cost of living.

He urged members of the council to regard their appointments as a responsibility to Nigerians rather than an opportunity to acquire political titles.

“Let no one mistake this gathering for a ceremony. We have not come here to collect titles. We have come here to begin a rescue,” he said.

Ibrahim-Imam identified food inflation, rising public debt, insecurity and unemployment as major concerns under the Tinubu administration.

He cited figures attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics, claiming that food inflation in Adamawa State stood at 38.85 per cent in August 2026. He put the corresponding figures for Zamfara and Bayelsa states at 37.96 per cent and 36.20 per cent, respectively.

The campaign chairman said the figures illustrated the financial pressure facing households, particularly in communities where families struggle to afford basic food items despite Nigeria’s agricultural potential and natural resources.

He also questioned the increase in the country’s public debt, claiming that it had risen from ₦87.38 trillion when Tinubu assumed office to ₦166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026.

Ibrahim-Imam argued that Nigerians were yet to experience sufficient improvements in their living conditions to justify the scale of government borrowing.

He further cited killings, kidnappings and attacks on schools as evidence of the security challenges he believes the administration has failed to adequately address.

The chairman urged members of the campaign council to mobilise voters nationwide and work towards protecting the integrity of polling-unit results.

He also called on Nigerians to respond to Tinubu’s 2022 campaign slogan, “Emilokan”, commonly translated as “it is my turn”, with “Awalokan”, which he presented as a message that ordinary citizens should have their turn.

“The Council is inaugurated today. The work begins tonight,” he said.

In his acceptance speech as Director-General of the ADC/Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council, Austin Akobundu said the campaign would prioritise the daily experiences of Nigerians rather than rely solely on broad economic indicators.

Akobundu, who represents Abia Central Senatorial District, said the campaign would address the difficulties families face in paying for food, transportation, rent, school fees and healthcare.

“This is not a ceremonial role. It is a call to lead a campaign for Nigerians who are asking a simple question: How can I afford to live?” he said.

He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of asking Nigerians to tolerate economic hardship without delivering adequate relief.

According to him, the ADC intends to present Atiku as an alternative by placing affordability, local production, job creation and social welfare at the centre of its proposed policies.

“Our campaign will make that reality impossible to ignore. We will take people’s experiences seriously, explain how the government’s choices affect their daily lives, and offer a credible alternative,” he said.

Akobundu also raised concerns about what he described as intimidation and harassment of ADC members by state agencies and political opponents. He said the party would respond through a disciplined campaign and resist attempts to limit its political activities.

He further criticised the reported detention of the campaign council’s Deputy Chairman and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing it as an affront to the rule of law. However, his speech did not provide details of the circumstances or legal basis of the reported detention.

Akobundu said an ADC government would introduce a targeted production subsidy for fuel refined in Nigeria from the first day of its administration, with the objective of supporting domestic refineries and reducing dependence on imported finished petroleum products.

He also pledged to review the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), pursue student debt forgiveness and introduce measures to make education more accessible and affordable.

On agriculture, he said the proposed administration would strengthen security around farmlands, improve access to credit, reopen land borders for legitimate cross-border trade and support local processing to increase food availability.

Other proposals include improving electricity supply and affordability, expanding financing opportunities for young people and women, and restoring the operational capacity of the eastern maritime port corridor to reduce freight expenses and improve access to international markets.

Akobundu also outlined plans to implement the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy, review the distribution of legislative powers between federal and state governments, improve healthcare delivery and ensure that annual budgets are implemented within their respective fiscal years.

He said the campaign would seek to win public support through clear policy proposals and lawful political engagement rather than rhetoric alone.

“We will campaign lawfully and relentlessly. We will listen to Nigerians, persuade them with a clear plan and defend their right to choose their future,” he said.

Akobundu expressed confidence that Atiku would win the 2027 presidential election and become Nigeria’s next president.