Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his reported absence from campaign rallies in some states, insisting that the president must account for his administration’s performance before seeking another four-year mandate.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
The former vice president argued that Tinubu should personally address Nigerians over the economic hardship experienced during his administration rather than rely on governors, ministers and political defectors to defend his record.
Atiku questioned the president’s reported suggestion that he might miss some campaign rallies because of the need to attend to national responsibilities.
He asked why the same urgency was not demonstrated when Nigerians were calling for relief from rising living costs and economic difficulties.
According to Atiku, many families have been forced to reduce their meals, postpone medical treatment and struggle with declining purchasing power over the past three and a half years.
He challenged Tinubu to explain what his administration had done to make food affordable, improve access to healthcare and create decent employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
Atiku also questioned the president’s priorities, arguing that the government should treat the economic challenges facing citizens with the same urgency it gives creditors and investors.
“Nigerians cannot wait either. They have bills to pay, children to feed and lives to rebuild. They deserve a president who treats their suffering with the same urgency he gives creditors and investors,” he said.
The ADC campaign official further accused Tinubu of relying on political allies to defend his administration instead of personally responding to questions about its performance.
Atiku maintained that while the president could assemble politicians to campaign on his behalf, they could not erase the economic difficulties Nigerians had experienced.
He also argued that the politicians serving on Tinubu’s campaign council were not the ones elected by Nigerians in 2023 and should not be allowed to shield the president from accountability.
“Tinubu did. He made the promises. He took the decisions. He must face the questions,” Atiku said.
He added that voters would ultimately judge the president based on their experiences under his administration rather than the assurances of political supporters.
Atiku’s remarks come amid political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures increasingly questioning the Tinubu administration’s economic policies and seeking to challenge the ruling party’s bid for another term.
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