Tinubu Blames Opposition for Hunger and Poverty, Atiku Responds

President Bola Tinubu has blamed opposition politicians for the hunger and poverty that Nigerians face. He said his government is working to solve these issues during the launch of his 2027 presidential campaign in Kaduna on Saturday.

Mr Tinubu spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign kick-off at Ranchers Bees Stadium, also known as Kaduna Township Stadium. This event is part of the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.

“I have heard the opposition talking about hunger and poverty. Who caused them? They did! They caused hunger and poverty. We are trying to eliminate them,” the president said.

He advised his supporters to be careful about what the opposition says, especially regarding his removal of the petrol subsidy. He insisted that Nigeria would not go back to that system.

“Be careful; watch them. Don’t let them lie to you. What is past is in the past.

“Fuel subsidy is in our past: no more corruption, no more falsification of invoices, no more lies, no more smuggling of fuel,” Mr Tinubu told supporters at the rally.

His comments come at a time when many Nigerians are worried about rising food prices, inflation, and decreasing purchasing power. These issues are likely to be hot topics in the upcoming political debates as the elections draw near.

In response, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), called Mr Tinubu’s remarks “a delusional, shameless attempt to dodge responsibility for the misery his own government has inflicted on Nigerians.”

He said a president cannot start a fire of hardship with his policies and then blame others for the smoke.

Since taking office in May 2023, the Tinubu administration has made significant economic changes, like removing the petrol subsidy and altering the foreign exchange system. The government defends these actions as necessary to reduce public spending and fight corruption linked to the subsidy system.

While Mr Tinubu claims that the removal of the subsidy is final, critics still want proof that the savings and extra money from these changes are improving life for ordinary Nigerians.

At the rally, the president also mentioned that salaries are being paid on time and praised APC governors for their development projects. He thanked the people of Kaduna State for their support in the 2023 presidential election, saying it helped him win.

“You gave me the joy of remembering the victory you gave me to become president. I have returned to thank you once again,” he said.

He asked Nigerians to give him another chance in 2027, promising to keep working towards prosperity, development, and national growth.

Vice President Kashim Shettima supported Mr Tinubu’s ties with northern Nigeria, saying the president has backed northern politicians for years. He mentioned Mr Tinubu’s support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

“President Bola Tinubu is one person who has fiercely identified with the North over the years. It is important to mention that when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was chased off the PDP, he ran to the Lion of Bourdillon, who gave him political support to contest for the presidency in 2007.

“In 2011, Asiwaju supported another northerner, Nuhu Ribadu, and in 2015 and 2019, he supported our late President Muhammadu Buhari,” Mr Shettima said.

The term “Lion of Bourdillon” refers to Mr Tinubu, whose house on Bourdillon Road in Lagos is linked to his political power.

Atiku ran for the presidency under the Action Congress (AC) in 2007 with support from Mr Tinubu and other leaders. In 2011, Mr Ribadu ran under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a party led by Mr Tinubu. In 2015 and 2019, Mr Tinubu backed Mr Buhari’s presidential runs under the APC.

Yet, Mr Tinubu and Atiku later became opponents, especially in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections. Atiku contested under the PDP while Mr Tinubu was in the APC.

Mr Shettima’s comments are part of the APC's efforts to highlight Mr Tinubu’s history of political support for northern leaders as the party seeks another term for him in 2027.

The rally had many important officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who welcomed Mr Tinubu. Other attendees included ministers, senators, and prominent APC figures.

APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and Abdulaziz Yari, the director-general of the campaign council, were key in organizing the rally and gathering support for Mr Tinubu’s re-election.

The event marked the start of the APC’s presidential campaign as the party aims to strengthen its support before the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, the rally faced controversy over its supposed cost after a letter circulated online claiming that the Kaduna State Government allocated ₦2.3 trillion for the event. The state government denied this claim, stating the letter was fake.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the governor did not write the letter and did not approve any funds.

The government also pointed out that Kaduna State’s 2026 budget is ₦985.92 billion, much lower than the ₦2.3 trillion allegedly spent on the rally.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council dismissed the claim as false information aimed at discrediting Mr Tinubu and other party leaders.

Dele Alake, a spokesperson for the campaign council, accused Atiku and the ADC of spreading what he called false information, a claim the ADC denied.

Atiku released a statement saying President Tinubu’s assertion that the opposition created hunger and poverty is “a delusional, shameless attempt to dodge responsibility for the misery his own government has inflicted on Nigerians.”

He noted that a president cannot create hardship with his policies and then blame others.

“Mr President, blaming the opposition for hunger is either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia. The APC governed Nigeria for eight years before you took office. You have added another three and a half years. Nigerians know who has been in power, and hardship did not begin when the opposition started talking about it. Stop insulting their intelligence and answer for your record.

“The hardship your administration has brought upon Nigerians is real. You cannot deny it by blaming others.”

Atiku listed policies from the Tinubu administration that he claims have worsened poverty in Nigeria.

“Which administration removed the petrol subsidy and watched the naira fall from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 to the dollar?

“Which administration has presided over a rise in poverty that led the World Bank to estimate that 63 percent of Nigerians will be below the national poverty line in 2026? Which administration extended the 2024 budget into 2025 while also operating a separate 2025 budget?

“Which administration recorded ₦7.13 trillion under ‘energy security’ in 2024 and faces questions over ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline related spending? Nigerians deserve to know who received these amounts and what was delivered.

“Which administration must explain the $12.4 billion gap flagged in Nigeria’s external accounts for the first half of 2026? Which administration paid $22.5 million in ‘other charges’ on the Abu Dhabi financing facility?

“Which administration is responsible for the killings, kidnappings, and displacement that continue to terrorize communities? These are the questions Nigerians are asking while your government blames the opposition.

“You cannot govern for three years, make life harder, and then blame others for describing the hardship. You asked who created the hunger. Nigerians are asking what you have done to end it.

“The people will judge your government by the lives they are living, not by the excuses you offer at campaign rallies.

Atiku criticized Mr Tinubu for commissioning the unfinished Abuja-Kaduna Expressway during the APC campaign rally, stating it shows how disconnected he is from the realities of everyday Nigerians.

“Your decision to commission the unfinished Abuja to Kaduna Expressway from inside a stadium shows how far removed you are from the daily reality of Nigerians. A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon-cutting ceremony,” he said.

Atiku declared that the January 16 election will be a judgment on President Tinubu’s record.

“The 2027 presidential election will be a referendum on your record. Nigerians have felt the cost of your leadership in their homes, markets, and communities. Their verdict is already clear: they have rejected your administration,” Mr Shaibu wrote.